Jeff and I met because the former singer of his band needed a sub for a gig she couldn't do, and she thought of me. She asked if I could do it, and I said yes. I was on tour with 7th Ave when Jeff called to discuss the gig and the band. He wanted to get together for a rehearsal beforehand with everyone, so once I returned from tour, we met for the first time in his beautiful Seattle home (that he himself designed, so I, of course, insisted on a tour). As I ooooh'd and aaaaah'd over every detail of his design, sparks were flying, but professionalism was key. It wasn't until weeks later, after the gig at the second band rehearsal, that we couldn't resist seeing if this was something we should pursue as more than a working relationship. We talked about it... we realized it could be a bad decision resulting in a breakup and a ruined working relationship... OR... it could lead to the BEST THING EVER... I think you can guess which way things went! ;-)
He laid rose petals all over the ground in our sister condo unit at The Ritz. He asked me to come over and had me sit down in a chair in front of him as he wanted to play a song for me. He was dressed all sharp and formal. He began to play "true colors" by Phil Collins. This song has a story as well. Many many months prior that song came on the radio and I got excited and started singing along and Jeff was pretty repulsed by the song. I told him how special it was to me, that I grew up listening to that song, and that it was one of my favorites. It's such a feel-good song! Flash forward a few months and there was one night when we were apart (he was in Seattle and I was in Florida) and I was feeling particularly vulnerable and sad. He sent me a voice message of him singing that song for me. I burst into tears of love. It was the sweetest thing because I knew how much he did not like the song, but he knew how much I liked it, so he wanted to cheer me up. Now flash forward to Dec 2021 where he played it for me live. I could see how much it meant to him now too. The song grew on him! He then got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked if I would marry him. I was balling and of course said, "YES!" The rest is history. :)