We first met the summer of 2013 while both working in Alaska. Ian was chopping at the local lumberjack show and Caitlin was waiting tables at the saloon only a block away. A mutual friend brought Ian in trying to play matchmaker, and it seems as if it worked! We headed to the "jack shack" to play card games and hang out, and although Caitlin had her chin on the table most of the night (game rules) it seemed as though Ian was still interested. We've been together ever since! A couple of moves from Alaska and back, to Tennessee, and New York we ended up in Minnesota where Ian proposed April 2017.

One of Caitlin’s favorite Alaksa stories is how a tourist watched my lumberjack show and then went to Fish Pirates for lunch. When she mentioned to the tourist that her boyfirend worked at the show, he was delighted to point out that Caitlin and I are both left handed. It was a stange thing to pick up on but the tourist went on to say that he knew we would make a great couple because our personalities matched so well. Sometimes tourists are the insightful ones.

One of Caitlin’s best birthday presents came to the door all by itself. After some food and a few drinks we decided to enjoy the beautiful summer evening out on the back porch. I heard a random “meow” from the neighbors house and decided to “meow” back to day hello. About 30 seconds later a scrawny looking kitty jumped up onto the porch to join us. She seemed hungry so we decided to give her some fish and let her inside. She showed her gratitude by being super cuddly, She weighed only 2.5 pounds and looked a bit disheveled. She had bot flies and had been wounded in a few fights. We took her to the vet to check for micro chips, and upon finding none, decided to make this little kitty a part of our family. Two years later, Hell-Cat Maggie is 10 plus pounds and healthy. She loves lasers and nerf darts. PS. Hell Cat Maggie is an Irish Whiskey Ian likes.

One of Ian’s favorite camping trips was in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. The Boundary Waters looks very similar to the Adirondacks minus the mountains. We drove up there in October on the last day of the BWCA summer season which meant that we didn’t have to pay for parking or camping. It also meant that there wasn’t many people around. After drooling at the end-of-season canoe sales, we packed our boat and paddled a few miles up Sawbill Lake. Other than one-single paddling group, we didn’t see a soul for 3 days. We didn’t do much other than eat, drink and relax and it was a perfect way to reconnect with nature and with each other. It’s amazing what happens when all of the world’s distractions melt away and we’re able to focus on what is really important; growing our love together.