It's happening, Fall 2022

Derek and Anna became Facebook friends after interacting in Chiefs Mess functions and from having multiple mutual friends. Derek regularly shared foodporn to include delicious pies. On one particular delicious looking pie post, Anna left a comment asking when she was going to get to try some. Later that month, Derek baked a bourbon pecan pie to bring to his work center and invited Anna to come by. Unfortunately, when Anna got to his office, Derek was out of the building for another meeting and his officemates thought he had left for the day. No pie for Anna, that day. To make-up for the mix-up, Derek brought Anna a slice of pie to her desk at work. (She may have dressed up a bit more for the "occasion.") They talked while she ate the AMAZING pie, and haven't stopped talking.

A month and a half of talking every day, Anna made Derek a streusel-topped apple pie for his birthday and Derek continued his foodporn. Derek also liked teasing Anna with all the pictures of his culinary creations, so a challenge may have been thrown down ("Alright pie guy! All this food and bourbon porn is too much. Time to put up or shut up. When are you cooking for me?") Derek invited Anna to his home. He made flank steak, sliced choate, and red beans with bacon, pepper, and tomatoes sauce. The food was amazing and the conversation even more so. Four hours flew by! A week later, Derek got back from a TDY so Anna invited Derek to her abode so he wouldnt have to cook (and because she wanted to see him again). She made him one of her favorite meals: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas. The conversation kept going, and next thing they knew the hours had flew by again and it was 3 am. Derek left Anna that night on cloud nine with their first kiss and the rest is history. :)

Something Derek and Anna both love is traveling. Seeing new places and showing the other places near and dear to them. They've traveled to Hilton Head, Maine, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, Asheville, and lastly Switzerland. Anna's company sponsored the trip they took to Swtizerland, which meant that Derek and Anna got to meet multiple of Anna's co-workers and their significant others. The trip took them to Zermatt, Switzerland, and the final night there took the group to a hotel at 3100 meters above sea level. The weather was crazy, blizzard conditions at times, but that didnt stop some of the group from going out to play. It was during one of these times the group had a snow ball fight after which Derek held Anna back. He got down on one knee, pulled the ring box out of his pocket while telling Anna how much he loved her and asking her to marry him. Anna said Yes, off course! Tackle hugging him, making them both fall into the snow. It was perfect! Fun and Romantic!