It all started with a wink … Robert and Elise met online. Elise saw his picture and wanted to know more. So she sent a wink. Robert winked back. They read each other’s profiles, chatted in the dating app, (stalked each other on social media …), then exchanged phone numbers and texted almost daily for a while. It took some convincing, but Elise managed to get Robert to agree to come out to the New York State Fair in Syracuse to see Toto. They met at Destiny USA (Syracuse mall) and took the bus to the fair. One ride of doom on the tilt-a-whirl and a dropped cell phone later, they made the last bus back to their cars. Robert came over to Elise’s apartment to chat before heading home. When they looked at the time it was 4 am. Robert slept on the couch and they went to the Syracuse public market the next morning. They decided to try again the next weekend but this time Elise went out to Rochester. Robert and Elise decided to try it again the next weekend. And the next, and the next … It all started with a wink.

Elise was finishing her Masters in Teaching from LeMoyne College. She was contemplating where to apply for a job - Syracuse or Rochester. Robert convinced her to interview in Rochester just to see what might happen. Meanwhile, they started talking about what the living situation would be if she got a job in Rochester. Both agreed that she would get an apartment. As they drove around the next few weeks, Elise would point out different complexes and Rob would slowly list reasons it wasn’t the right fit. Elise graduated in December and was offered a job in Rochester. Suddenly, she had to find an apartment. That’s when Robert casually said, “well, you could just move in with me.” And so, over the Christmas holiday, she moved from Syracuse to Rochester.

“Alright GF, can you take days off work?” Ummm … I guess? Why? “We’re going to the Adirondacks this year.” Okay. We left Thursday evening, camper and puppy in tow. We arrived at the Lake Placid/Whiteface KOA, set up camp, and promptly fell asleep in the cool mountain air. Friday, we explored Lake Placid. Saturday, We planned to go up Whiteface and climb the path to the summit. Robert prepared breakfast, we ate, got in the car and drove towards Wilmington. After a brief wait at the toll booth, we took the slow, stunning drive up the mountain. At the top of the driveway, we got ready to climb. “It will take ten to twenty minutes” they said … I grabbed my walking stick and the puppy backpack. The climb starts as stone stairs. And then turns to small boulders. And then turns into large boulders. I don’t know who only takes 10-20 minutes for that climb! We made the final push and are rewarded with some of the most beautiful views in the world. We caught our breath looking towards Plattsburgh and Vermont. We walked across the mountain top to view Lake Placid and Mirror Lake. We found a perfect Natural Bench overlooking Seneca Lake and Mount Marcy. As we considered our path back down the mountain, we decided to try the elevator. We loaded Jax into his new back pack and waited our turn. I then turned to Robert and said what had been on my mind “You know, I thought you might have a question to ask me while we were up here” “I did … Yeah. It was supposed to happen. But I can’t find the ring …” As we wait for the elevator, the operator finally sees Jax on my back - not a service dog, not allowed. We go outside to take Jax out of the backpack. (Although he is comfy and getting lots of pictures, we all know my luck and stairs. Don’t need 40 extra pounds helping me make my way down the mountain quicker than anticipated) I turn around and Rob is on one knee. “Will you Marry me?” A thousand thoughts race through my head but I quickly squeak out a … “Yes” And so we climbed down the mountain turning the page to a new chapter. (Luckily when we got back to the camper, the ring was right where it was supposed to be. It’s better that way … I managed to fall in the Ausable River about two hours later.)

2016 First date First trip to NYC First Schwan Thanksgiving Last holiday apart 2017 First New Year’s party First birthdays together Jax becomes our fur child First camping trip in a tent First overnight trip to NYC First RBTL show Elise graduated LeMoyne with her Masters in Teaching Elise gets a job in the Rochester City School District 2018 Elise moved in Elise walked across LeMoyne’s stage First hockey season tickets First trip to Florida First Christmas in Georgia 2019 Elise breaks her leg spectacularly First cruise gets rescheduled (see above) Both turn 30 First RPO concert Rallie becomes our third fur child First trip to Sea World Rob gets his Truck First Fringe Fest Elise makes a quilt First live Bills game 2020 First trip to Canada First day of the Pandemic First camping trip in a camper Bought kayaks Jax learns to swim (and HATES it) Build a classroom in the basement Survive a garage break-in Get a fancy new snowblower 2021 Elise went back to the classroom Buy and begin renovating an old camper Rob has planned surgery Survive a Hurricane in a Camper Elise breaks her thumb First home Bills game First sibling wedding First RPO season tickets 2022 First cruise as a couple! Bought a new camper Camped >15 times Rob proposed 10/1/2022 Elise accepted to the University of Rochester Christmas is canceled because of an epic snowstorm Survive epic snow storm (81” in Hamburg, NY …less than 6” in Rochester) 2023 Elise’s car gets stolen Elise and Rob become car mechanics February trip to Georgia gets canceled because of a massive snowstorm (Rochester gets 39” … Buffalo gets none) Elise's car gets almost stolen (again) Elise gets accepted for a summer internship Rob gets promoted at work Finally made it to Georgia for “Christmas” (despite a wind storm) Said yes to the dress with Elise's mom, gramma, sister, and papa Camped >10 times Experienced IMSA at Watkins Glen Elise completes her Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership 2024 Elise begins doctoral program