Long story short - Colette introduced us! She will tell the whole story at our wedding, but suffice it to say, Burt and I said our first "hellos" at a birthday party for Kelsey Scott at the Ducheneaux ranch. I was spending the summer at the ranch while on sabbatical. Covid-19 prevented me from traveling to Costa Rica and Spain which was my original plan. I will forever be in debt to Colette for offering the ranch as a place that I could complete my sabbatical project.

Unbeknownst to me, Burt was in full planning mode weeks before our planned trip to Hawaii in October 2022. We were going there for my work conference and to meet friends from Alaska for some gorgeous Maui weather. I should have known something was up when he encouraged me to get my nails done on our long layover in Denver on the way there, but I remained clueless. I should have been taken notice when he wanted me to pick a nice restaurant for a fancy dinner one day that week. But if you know me, I am always up for a fancy dinner and I was happy to comply with his request. My last clue should have been how nervous he was the day and evening prior to dinner. I was racking my brain to understand and spent several minutes trying to decide if I hadn't planned enough fun activities?! He suggested a walk on the beach before dinner that evening which was a romantic suggestion but not unlike Burt. It was partly cloudy but still warm with signs that the sunset would show herself in full color later. If you know him, he seems to find the great sunsets, wherever he is. He still seemed nervous and I thought perhaps I had chosen my beach poorly as we walked by some teenagers, beachside in Lahaina. He then suggested we take a pic against the developing sunset and proceeded to walk over to a passing couple to ask if they would do the honors. I proceeded to pose myself at his his side and was confused as he was kneeling down in the sand - did he drop his phone?? I was in slight shock as I realized he was holding up a gorgeous turquoise and diamond ring. He seemed to have a prepared speech, but my ability to hear him only came back to understand he wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together. I took a full 5 seconds to get my wits about me to say "Yes!"