“ A good partnership is not so much one between two healthy people, it’s one between two demented people who have had the skill or luck to find a non threatening accommodation between their relative insanities” - The School of Life It all started 8 years ago with a white lie, a delusion, persistence, and a force of nature we can only describe as animal magnetism. Tina’s perspective- I found myself surrounded by friends in a charming country bar in Tucson called the Maverick King of Clubs. Over the years, this Tucson staple became a favorite stomping ground of mine as it offered a gathering place for all kinds of kinds who just loved to dance! Many walks of life boot scoot and boogied through those doors, but none hairier than the man I met on an unknown day in late February 2016. The energy was high, the dance floor was packed, and I surveyed the crowd for my next dance partner; my girlfriend spun around with an intriguing looking man who seemed to fit the bill. The song ended and I asked her who he was, she gestured him over and said, “this is Ben”, I looked him in the eye and said, “ Hi Ben, are you good at two stepping?”, he stood tall, looked me right back in the eye and confidently said, “yes, I am”. He took my hands and we danced, somehow channeling a seasoned dance partner; he fooled me into dancing with him the rest of that night and turns out the rest of our lives. Ben’s Perspective- 2-step? Sure, I had heard of it but I had no idea. All I knew was that I had an opportunity to dance with a stunningly beautiful stranger and the answer was obvious. “Sure, I can two step!” As we hit the dance floor my plan was simple, keep Tina twirling and hide the fact that I had no clue what my feet were supposed to do. Perhaps I was emboldened by residency; 3 years of the “fake it until you make it” mentality. To my astonishment, 7th and 8th grade PE class paid off and our first dance ended with wide smiles. After 8 years as a cog in the medical machine I was thrilled to be moving back to Montana. I excitedly told Tina who simply replied “Why” with confused interest. Well for the obvious reasons: skiing, biking, rivers, hunting, climbing of course. “Skiing!” She said, “I’m getting good at that”. This had me thinking, how does anyone get good at skiing while living in Arizona? “Really, I asked, “how many times have you been skiing”. Again her reply caught me off guard “Oh, like three times.” I couldn’t help laughing at her utter delusion while smiling at her self confidence; I was captivated. This was the beginning of our love which has grown into a beautiful merger of mismatched hobbies, peculiar adventures, saying yes to exploration, and the most honest connection we could ever ask for. We love our way of loving each other and the way that our worlds have integrated over time. It seems we continue to surprise each other by finding joy out of the little things like a good cup of coffee, walking Luna by the creek, watching the birds, staring at our plants, traveling, visiting family/friends, mountain biking, and eating delicious food. We feel fortunate to gather and celebrate with all of you beautiful people who have made a mark in our lives and if it’s going to be your first time to Montana, we welcome you with open arms! >> If you enjoyed this story, please RSVP and sign up for our live talk 9/14/24 where we will exchange vows in front of the one's we care for most. XOXO LET'S GET MARRIED!