We have had a deep love for music, playing and listening, our entire lives. In our school’s marching band, Tanairi played the trumpet and I was in the drumline. We officially met during a marching band competition at Godwin High School in Richmond, VA. As our band was watching another band play, she came and sat next to me. We immediately introduced ourselves to each other and quickly related to the smell of cigarettes bothering us. She suggested that we go get some hot chocolate from the concession stand and of course, I agreed. After getting our hot chocolate, we watched the remaining bands together until it was time to leave. On the bus ride back to Manassas Park High School, she decided to sit next to me on the bus also. For the entire 2-hour bus ride home – I am not kidding – we did not say a single word to each other. We sat in our seat staring at the seat in front of us. While we were pulling up to the school, I finally got the courage and decided I must at least get this girl’s phone number, which I successfully did! We made it official two years later after a short-lived first attempt, rekindling at the 2011 Powhatan Band Trip, and have been together ever since.

In late March 2019, we took a trip to Seattle. On April 2nd, early in the morning, I recommended we visit Kerry Park, so we could get a panoramic view of the city before the area filled with tourists. As we were posing for a picture, I dropped down on one knee and asked Tanairi to marry me. She said Yes. :) We are so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Chesterfield!