Grant and I met at the Cornerstone Tavern on Glenwood Ave around the corner on St. Patrick’s Day in 2017. It was around midnight or early morning. It is hard to know. He was bar crawling with his buddies. I was bar crawling with my friends. “Where you girls coming from?” One of his buddies stopped our way and asked. Grant started to talk to me with some legitimate questions. “NC State.” I answered. “Agriculture.” I answered. I had to speak loudly. “Sure, 919-###-8824.” I answered. We passed and left them in the crowd. “I am at the corner. Wanna talk more?” He texted me. We had a drink and talked more at the corner of Cornerstone. “I can drop you at your hotel.” I offered. Now I am wondering why …

Grant was hungry and we stopped at Waffle House on Capital Blvd. It was definitely early morning. We talked a lot more about people and life.

He was still bar crawling, in the middle of the day. I picked him up and took him to my friend’s move-away party. We talked more.

He was back on base in Jacksonville. We were on video chatting every day until he was discharged.

He went back to work in Harrisburg PA. We were on video chatting every day. He drove down to Raleigh every the other Friday after work and back Harrisburg Sunday afternoon. How far away? 429 miles and 7 hours. Round trip. He found a job and moved to Raleigh eventually. I moved in with him.

The passion with hiking started from the boots. We were hiking in Montreat NC … It happened beside a creek in the mountain. The water was flowing. “Absolutely, I do!”

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.