We met in the summer of 2011 through mutual friends and a passion for softball. Over the next few years we would sub on each other's teams, play in some tournaments together and occasionally cross paths at beer busts and parties. I wouldnt say that sparks flew right away. Our story is more of one of timing and proof of how God works in mysterious ways! We are both firm believers in that “everything happens for a reason” We did however always have a good time in each other's presence. Little did we know, it would start to lay the foundation to the rest of our lives!

In the fall of 2015 after not seeing each other for awhile we crossed paths at (you guessed it!!!) a softball tournament, where we would be competing against each other. My (Tory) team lost pretty early but it was a fun time. So I stuck around and watched some other friends and AJ’s team play on into the evening. After all the games we had some drinks and “caught up” with what was going on in each other's lives, since it had been some time since we last hung out. I recall we both had a great time, but still would not say that we were on each other's radar as far as dating goes. (Mostly because he had a girlfriend) Over the next few months we would occasionally chat or meet up for a drink and talk as friends do. By doing this we found out we shared interests in not only sports but music, and more importantly MOTORCYCLES!! I found out she grew up with her dad giving her rides on his Harley Davidson. So for those of you that have known AJ or A-BOMB (as she introduced herself one of the first times we met) for awhile may know that her quirkiness, amazing smile, massive heart, and just being fun to be around should be enough to lure a guy in! It was! But the Harley thing, that really got the “wheels turning!”

At some point in June, AJ called me to ask about my knowledge of motorcycles. She was thinking about buying one and wanted to know more and possibly needing some lessons. I remember being at work and sitting on the curb in front of my shop and just having a great conversation. When I got off the phone two things happened 1) My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much, not at the fact that she wanted to ride, but because as you know with her conversations can quickly derail and go in many different directions; and 2) we had set up a time to go for a motorcycle ride! When I picked her up for our ride it definitely still seemed like two friends hanging out and going for a motorcycle ride. However, when I dropped her off it was different!!!! I'm not sure if it was between Prescott and Wabasha or lake Pepin and Red Wing, but somewhere along the way it just happened. It started to feel like we both had a connection! At least to me.

So after our ride, I couldn't stop thinking of her! It was strange to me because we had known each other for so long and hung out so many times, but I had never had these feelings! But now.... they where strong and often! So I invited one of my best friends (Derek) to come have some drinks with me and go watch her play in her bocce ball league. I remember talking her up and telling him how we had this great time and that we just had this natural and real connection. When we left that night his exact words were “ I dont know man, she just doesnt seem that into you”. And he was right! She pretty much ignored me the whole night. I was so confused! But then the next thursday, she had asked me to be a sub on her bocce team! I was back in! I couldn't wait to hang out with her again! I showed up that night so excited, only to be crushed again!!! I found out that I would be subbing FOR HER personally! So she could go to a twins game! WTF!! Derek was right. Time to move on. (LOL.....he's so dramatic!)

After a couple of days I still could not get her out of my head so I decided that I was gonna give it a shot and at least ask her out on a real date, just so I knew for sure. So since I already knew what the answer was I shot her a text and asked her out on a legit “date”. I waited next to my phone for hours. Nothing. I woke up in the middle of the night. Nothing. The next morning. Nothing. Oh well, she is just a flirty friend, time to move on. (AJ: I'm a firm believer of not wanting to be asked out on a 1st date via text! Come on!) BUT THEN... later that afternoon. I received a text from AJ GIRL (as AJ is derek’s brothers name and already used in my phone). I had already prepared myself for the whole “I dont date friends” reply but I opened it anyway. It started off by apologizing for not responding right away and blah blah blah and then "of course I would." Wait! What! I seriously had to read it a few times. I was on cloud 9! I had to make this date perfect!

After all the sweating she made me do to get this date, I decided that I would come up with a plan that would keep her in my presence the whole time. With no escape! So since we both like to be active a day out in a canoe was perfect. However, it almost didnt happen! I had quite the jaunt planned so we were gonna get an ealy start and meet in the morning. Just around the time I was expecting her, she hit me with the “we may have to reschedule” text. Apparently her car wouldn't start🙄. (Those of you who know me/AJ, this is NOT far fetched.) I offered to come pick her up but she was concerned that if we were gone all day she wouldnt have time to figure out her car troubles later. It was a holiday weekend so that was her new priority. But I wasnt letting her off the hook that easy! So my new offer was that I come pick her up AND fix her car before we left! ON A FIRST DATE!!! Anyways, it ended up not being so bad. It was just a battery that wouldnt hold a charge. So off to Wal-Mart we go, where I got my very first taste of what shopping with AJ was like! (those stories are for another time). She purchased a battery. I installed it. Car was fixed. Off to lake Waconia we go. Finally! My cousin doesnt live far from that lake and had a canoe he was letting us borrow. So we stopped there, loaded it up and by late morning we were in the water. This is where I first realized this might not be the best way to get to know someone better. As you may know, in a canoe one must sit in the front facing foward. While the other sits in the back facing the same direction. So, a lot of yelling and zero eye contact. Perfect. And with the wind and high waves that day it was not an optimal day to paddle all the way across the lake to Lolas. But we did. We enjoyed a nice lunch and finally some great conversation. Oh! And I finally got to get some good long looks into those beautiful green eyes!

It was around late afternoon when we both realized we would have to paddle back accross the lake to get back to the truck. I didnt care though. I had the best seat in the house😋 By the time we got back to the truck I was sure she was gonna want to get back home. But to my amazment she wanted to continue on with the rest of the day I had planned. So into town we went and enjoyed some beer flights at Enkie brewing. At this point it didnt feel like a first date anymore, more like a 6th date. We were enjoying each other's company so much that as the sun went down we walked over to Floyd's bar where I would discover another one of her favorites. Live music! Thats right! I managed to keep this date going from 9am to 9pm and it kept getting better! It didnt hurt that she didnt have a vehicle, or a choice! [He trapped me! 😋] Before we knew it the bar was closing down! We both had too much to drink and were way too far from home. Its from this point on that nothing was planned, but I did have an idea and at 2am it seemed like the most responsible thing to do. I texted my cousin who was out of town, but only lived two blocks away to tell him our perdicament. He told me where the spare key was and some extra pillows and blankets and problem solved! Now, on to our new problem. AJ wants french toast! Of course she does! As if it couldn't have gotten any better, she wants to cook it for me! In a kitchen she has never been in! Long story short, it was the best french toast I've ever had! And that was our first date.

This was our 4th date! Thats right. 4th date, Sturgis motorcycle rally! Why not? This date was important for a few reasons. Our first kiss happened here! Our first dance happened here! And this is where our feelings for each other really started to grow. [AJ: Plus it was my 1st year at Sturgis after MANY yrs of wanting to go!] One other quick story that has some significance is our motorcycle ride through Spearfish Canyon. It is here that we would stumble across a stream and waterfall that many locals and visitors would throw quarters in and make wishes. (AJ: my favorite place in Sturgis!) The last few weeks were so great that I knew what my wish was! I quickly tossed a quarter in and wished that somehow, some way this amazing A-BOMB would become a larger part of my life! Two weeks later it was official, she was my girlfriend😊 (On a side note, we would return here one year later for the rally and some other exploring and while on a hike we would discovered one of my best friends phobias of being pushed off a cliff by mountain goats!)

One of my most favorite days and adventures that I've ever experienced! Like most of our adventures together it was definitely an exciting one and sure not to dissapoint! To make a very long story somewhat short, I will fast forward and tell you that we are back again in the Black Hills of SD for a family reunion/annual camping trip. (For those of you not familar, the Sturgis motorcycle rally is “in” the black hills area). So yes, for a 3rd consecutive year we found ourselves back in Sturgis! Now growing up, I have been to the Black Hills many times and thought I knew the area pretty well. I knew there where numerous locations in the area that would make great proposal sites, but there was only one that was perfect! That's right, the magical wishing well we had stumbled upon 2 years earlier in Spearfish Canyon! I mean, it worked the first time so why wouldn't it work this time?! Now onto the story...

With all the family stuff and other plans we really only had one day to ourselves. In order to make this work we were going to have to do something that was on AJ's Black Hills bucket list before I could talk her into a random bike ride to Spearfish Canyon, where she didnt even know about the wish I made 2 years earlier. What's on that bucket list you ask? Hiking to the top of Harney Peak! At over 7200 ft its the highest point in SD! So around 7am we packed up the motorcycle, I put a diamond and 2 quarters in my pocket and off we went. Now I will have to cut out some details but the nearly 8 mile hike was a story in itself, and it was just the begining! Along the way we would see breathtaking views, come feet away from some mule deer, experience a mountain top injury rescue/extraction and even get in a good ole fashion quarrel with each other! The mule deer sighting is pretty self explanatory. The injury rescue happend near the top of the peak when a lady had slipped and dislocated her knee! There were too many trees for a helicopter rescue and too steep and rocky for an ATV or horseback rescue. So it was all man power! Search and rescue teams would take turns carrying the stretcher down the narrow paths. We crossed paths with them twice, once on our way up (they were about a quarter of the way from the top on their way down) and again on our way down. We would catch up to them and have to wait for a spot to pass.

Natrually AJ wanted to take her time and really enjoy this hike, not knowing what all I had planned for the day which is understandable. But you may also understand how anxious and irritable every photo opportunity was making me! I just wanted to get off that damn mountain cause the only thing I had in mind was asking the love of my life to marry me!!! But of course, she did not know that so she thought I was just being an ass and trying to rush her. (YUP!) It wasn't a big fight, but there was a lot of awkward silence the rest of the hike and I couldn't help but wonder if the timing was right or if this little spat would come back to haunt me later in the day?! It obviously didn't or you wouldn't be reading this right now! 😀 Alright its mid-afternoon and we have 75 miles to get to Spearfish Canyon, which in the Hills is roughly two hours on a motorcycle. Lets go!!!

I'm feeling good and we are making good time! BUT THEN! About 7 miles before Deadwood we start seeing cars coming from the direction we are heading that look like an ex-girlfriend had taken a Louisville slugger to them! Yup, a bikers worse fear - HAIL! And it was still on the dashboards of the cars so I knew it wasn't far ahead. We just happen to be passing this little hole-in-the-wall bar so I found the biggest tree I could find and parked the bike. We barely set foot in the door and it started and boy did that deserted little bar fill up quick! Bikers were pouring in from everywhere! Some had welts and bruises from riding in it until they found shelter and some even rode their nice new bikes right up into part of the bar so the bike wouldn't get damaged. There was even a car full of young girls that didnt know how to put the top up on their convertable, so they ditched the car in the parking lot and ran inside. All we could do is grab a beer, make some new friends and wait it out. About an hour later the hail and rain had passed. This worked against me and really took some of our precious time and daylight, but it also distracted us from our spat earlier which got us back on track. I once again had full confidence and knew this was the perfect time! It had been a long day and Age suggested maybe we head back so we can make dinner with the family. Btw, we had no cell service and none of our family had any idea if we were ok or even where we were. Neither of us brought a jacket or even a sweatshirt and it was getting dark soon. So I said “well, we dont want to go back the way we came from and back into the hail”. Time to look at a map.

I suggested a route home that would go up around the next mountain to bring us back to camp on the other side of the storm. This would lead us to Spearfish Canyon trail! She had no idea! 😊 We knew the sun would be down soon, so we stopped at the Deadwood Harley Davidson store and bought some warm clothes! These now are referred to as our "engagment clothes." Now I'm going to remind you of three things. 1) there's about one hour of daylight left. 2) I am determind to ask this girl to marry me, where I want to and nowhere else! 3) SHOPPING WITH AJ!!! 😩. They are fricking sweat pants! You dont have to try them on!!!!!!!!! (AJ: no one wants to look frumpy!) Anyway, we found some clothes and were good to go! Now a whole new set of problems arise! I could not remember were the turn off for the little path to the waterfalls was. I felt like I had driven too far and it had been two years since we were there and nothing was looking familar! I had to ask her for directions!!

Finally with a little help I found the turn! We had about 15 mins of daylight left so I suggested we stop and stretch before our 2 hour ride home. We walked along the boardwalks and took in the sights even chatted with some other tourists. I tried so hard to be friendly, but inside I was like “dude, get lost, stop talking to me! Im trying to make this pretty lady my wife!” Anyways we finally came to the spot that we had thrown our quarters into two years prior. I reached into my pocket, grabbed the ring in the left hand and more importantly the magic quarter in my right, tossed it in the water and made my wish! I waited for AJ to make her wish and as she turned around I was on my knee. I'm glad there was just enough daylight left so she could see a little sparkle from the ring I had. She looked at it, then at me, then back at the ring! The magical wishing well had worked again! SHE SAID YES!!! Now that the good stuff is over, I must tell you that due to the storms and conditions it would take us almost another 4 hrs to get back to camp! When we finally got there it was after midnight and we were so excited to share our news, but everyone was already asleep. Despite that... oh man, what a day!! Now be sure to go to the main menu and select 'Wedding Party' to learn a little bit about our important people for the day.