Brian and I met at his senior prom........ just kidding!!!!  The truth is I spotted Brian from across the room at a friend's party in July of 2012.  He just looked so sweet and innocent that I had to go right up to him and heckle him a bit :-)  Now before you judge me, know that I am not usually the girl who walks right up to a  guy to introduce herself.  But, there was something about Brian that just caught my attention and drew me to him.  We hit it off immediately.  Our mutual love of sarcasm and differences of opinion regarding the validity of NC State's basketball program gave us plenty to discuss for the remainder of the evening.  We exchanged phone numbers, and the next morning I found a text from him making sure I got home okay.  Right then and again our first date I remember being immediately struck by what a gentleman Brian was, and impressed by how he just made every little thing more intersting.  I remember thinking that I miiiiight want to get to know him just.... a..... bit.... better.  That was how it felt every time we hung out, until I got to the point that I wanted him to be a part of everything I did.  He made everything better.  I realized Brian was the one for me about six months later, because no matter how far away he travelled or how many times that frustrated me, I just knew that I would never in a million years be able to let him go.   To summarize "how we met", I guess I would have to say that every day that I have spent with Brian I have fallen a little more in love with him.  And, I know that journey has only just begun.

 I met Catherine at a mutual friend’s party.  I was minding my own business and this beautiful young woman walked right up to me and started talking trash about my choice of beverage (that night I was having a vodka and tonic).  I know…weak drink but I had just eaten a big meal.  At any rate, I was immediately struck by her beauty, confidence, and sense of humor. 

Long story short…she caught me in many ways. I quickly learned that Catherine was much smarter than me.  She could dish it out as well as she could take it, but I do like a challenge.  After a few dates I convinced her that I did not live with my parents, and that she should come over to my squalor of a bachelor pad so that I could cook her dinner.  Afterwards, we were sitting on my back porch and I told her that I was thinking of taking a new job that would require me to travel extensively during the winter months.  She told me that she wasn’t interested in dating a guy who was gone all the time, but we would wait and see how things played out. 

Over the next few months we continued to enjoy getting to know each other. I had a hard time believing that this woman was into me. She was (and still is) the most patient and loving person than I have ever met.  We decided to start seeing each other exclusively….and then came January of 2013, which is now known to her as “No Brian January”.  I left for a two week trip that turned into a three week and then a four and a half week nightmare.  I don’t know how I would have survived without Cat’s support. Hearing her voice, even if it was over a terrible Skype connection was so comforting to me, and I knew I was falling in love with her.  But I was gone for a month…I was sure I would return home to an ex-girlfriend.  But that wasn’t the case.

Catherine came to pick me up at the airport, and I’m not generally that emotional of a person, but seeing her pull up to the curb made me tear up.  From that moment I knew I would be lucky if I could spend the rest of my life with her.  And now that is reality!  I feel truly blessed, and I am excited about our future together.