I met Rheanna in High School. I was a grade ahead of her. My only contact with Rheanna was during Study Hall and usually consisted of around 5 words, totaling maybe 5 seconds, three of which included eye contact. We would both sign out of Study Hall and go to the library. Our “time” together would then occur when I’d notice her behind me and I would sign her in. I would tell her, “I already signed you in so you wouldn’t have to.” She would thank me and then we would go our separate ways.

Right after I officially graduated from High School, I saw Rheanna and waved to her. She came over to me, hugged me. She congratulated me and gave me her e-mail address. She told me to e-mail her some time. I kept it and added her to my contact list, not knowing when I’d e-mail her.

Not exactly how I enjoyed our time together, but that was pretty much our time IN high school. Our encounter outside of high school occurred during Matt’s, a mutual friend of ours, graduation party. I remember we talked some and enjoyed the party. I especially found it funny when Matt gave Rheanna a piece of cake and smeared it in her face. We both laughed, but I’m not sure if she was laughing because she was also happy and having a good time or trying to hide her anger and keep from tackling Matt.

Needless to say, I always found Rheanna attractive and had what one would call a “crush” on her. It wasn’t until I saw a picture of her in the newspaper for a band event that I decided to go ahead and e-mail her as she told me to do. I complimented her on her hair and told her I liked her new haircut.

That e-mail changed the course of events for our future. We e-mailed each other very often; a lot of the time, we’d write each other several times a day! We eventually went out on dates and got to know each other. Our first couple of dates had included seeing the movie “Fifty First Dates” (starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) with some friends and a night of bowling with a group of friends. After a bunch of dates, we made it official and became a couple on April 24, 2004, a day I’ll always regard as one of my best days.

In August of 2003, I began my college career at East Stroudsburg University while Rheanna would be finishing her senior year of high school. Rheanna visited me several times and I enjoyed each and every visit. Rheanna eventually graduated and began her studies at Kutztown University. We tried to make our relationship work, despite being hundreds of miles apart. We would visit each other during breaks.

However, this was not enough for me. I decided that I wanted to spend my future with her and transferred to Kutztown University to be with her. We have been together since and I would not have it any other way.

It all started with an email and a simple compliment: “I saw your photo in the newspaper. I like your new haircut.” All it took was for one email to start a pyramid of emails and a friendship that would become the foundation of our relationship.

Shawn graduated from high school in 2003 and began his journey in East Stroudsburg University. We began dating his first year in college, and my senior year in high school. At first, Shawn was majoring in Media and Communications. When he soon realized he may not get to work with his idol bands, he then switched to secondary education. It’s hard to tell whether he majored in Math, Social Studies, or English first, but he’s definitely tried them all. We were only dating for nine months when Shawn decided he was going to transfer to Kutztown University, where I was attending.

It’s said that college is the best time of your life. It’s even better when you have your significant other by your side to help you study, to spend time on weekends with, and to definitely help poke you to stay awake during long all-nighters. Shawn and I had a great time in Kutztown, especially since we shared many of the same classes.

Shawn graduated in 2008, while I would wait to graduate until 2009. Once I did, and we were both home, there was no keeping us apart- we did everything we could to be together. After a year of living with a roommate, I knew it was time to move on, and after much debate, Shawn and I decided to move in together. It’s a miracle we haven’t killed each other yet!

I should add that I, very impatiently, was waiting for Shawn to pop the question. There were TONS of opportunities, and every time I thought it would happen, it didn’t… talk about frustrating!

On January 21st, 2012, Shawn and I were settling down to watch a DVD we had rented from Netflix. I opened the Netflix envelope and began complaining about how their DVD was on a burnt disc and how cheap the service was for what we were paying (blah blah blah). When I popped the disc into the DVD player, the menu looked weird- not like the title menu you see on a regular movie. I asked Shawn what it was, and he replied, “Just hit play. Why do you have to question everything?” I did, and a slideshow of photos of us from the past 8 years came on screen. On the last photo, Shawn had written, “Will you marry me?” I looked at him in surprise to find he was down on one knee with the ring in his hand. I’m pretty sure I replied, “Well, yeaaahhh!”

....And here we are today...