Alex's Version: During fall break 2016, everyone on UT campus went home. I had to stay on campus for the weekend because I was on the rowing team and had practice. After practice one day, I decided I wanted to lower my bunk bed because it was way too high. I was scared I was going to fall off, but I tried to do it myself and wasn’t able to get it down. I knew my friend Jake, who I sat next to in all my classes, was still on campus, so I called him and asked if he could help me. He said that he was on his way back from an ROTC camping trip and he would stop by. I went down to go get him and he brought a friend! That was when I was introduced to Landon for the first time! The boys successfully moved my bed down. After chatting for a few minutes, Jake invited me to watch the UT vs Texas A&M football game with them. A couple of hours passed and I headed toward Morrill Hall.
Jake told me to come to Landon’s room because we were going to watch the game there. When I walked in, Landon didn’t have a shirt on. He had obviously just worked out. I sat down and tried not to stare when Landon said “you should probably leave because I am going to shower”. So I said “okay” and left the room. Landon and his roommates had a connecting room, but they had moved all four beds into one room and the other room had couches with all the TVs. Jake said we were going to watch the game in there, so I waited for landon to return :). I decided I was going to try to talk to him, so when he came back I started asking him questions, but he was very interested in watching the football game and eating his canned raviolis so I couldn't get much out of him. The game ended and we lost so I went home. Even though we didn’t talk much, I knew something about Landon intrigued me.
Over the next couple of weeks, I started to meet people who were friends with Landon. There were three other people I met in completely random scenarios who knew Landon. It was truly a 'Dang! its meant to be' scenario. I started dropping hints to Jake that I was interested and he said he'd put a word in for me. A couple weekends later, my friend and I called Jake to pick us up and he had Landon and Ryan, another one of Landon’s besties, in the car. Of course I was in the back seat next to Landon and noticed he was wearing a very interesting pink sweater. He asked for my number & snapchat and from there, we started to chat periodically. Weeks later, we started hanging out and it seems like we have been hanging out ever since. We officially started dating in March of 2017.
Once Landon started talking, I was able to see his incredible qualities. He is the best listener and the most supportive person. He is kind to everyone he meets. He loves people and dogs (THE BEST dog dad!). He makes everything funny, especially when he does his impersonations. One of his most notable qualities though is his ambition and dedication to being the best he can be. He has worked so hard over the years and just simply will never quit. We have been through so much over the years but have always continued leaning into each other and laughing our way through it. He is everything I could have ever dreamt for in a life partner. Six years later and we are engaged! We are so excited to continue building our life together and cannot wait to celebrate our love with all of our closest friends and family!!
Landon's Version: In the fall of our freshman year at UT, I had no idea that helping a friend from ROTC would lead to the love of my life. My buddy, Jake, casually mentioned that his engineering friend needed a hand moving her bed.
Our initial interaction was a bit comical. After wrestling her bed into place, I hit the gym for a nice little workout. Later, the 3 of us decided to watch the UT vs. Texas A&M game in my neighbor’s dorm. Before the game, I wanted to freshen up with a nice, relaxing shower. So, I politely asked her to leave my dorm. Little did I know that this would become one of our inside jokes down the road, like my infamous Beefaroni dinner during the game, a culinary masterpiece she still teases me about to this day. Afterwards, I was definitely interested in getting to know her more. My friends Jake and Ryan would ask me about her a few times over the next couple of weeks, and I caught the hints they were throwing out.
A few weeks later, serendipity brought us together again. My friends and I had just left an ugly sweater party when we decided to offer her and her friend a ride back to their dorm. I finally mustered enough courage while in a pink sweater of all things to get her number and Snapchat in that car ride. From then on, we started talking and built a pretty special connection. We officially began dating in March 2017, and time definitely flies when you’re together with your best friend.
As we got to know each other better, we discovered our shared interests in working out, cooking, staying healthy, our mutual affection for dogs, a good cup of coffee, the thrill of live music, dancing with each other, traveling, simple days on the lake, and spending aimless amounts of time shopping (only when it’s for something she wants). These all deepen our connection and continue to make our time together enjoyable.
There wasn't one specific moment that made me realize she was the one, but instead a gradual process of falling for her. The way we effortlessly connected, the shared laughter, and the countless moments of kindness and thoughtfulness all played a role in my growing feelings for her. What I cherish most about her is her boundless capacity for love and selflessness. She's always willing to go the extra mile for others. We did face challenges, especially when semesters or months kept us apart with long-distance. But because of those times, we grew stronger as a couple.
After returning to Knoxville from the first two years of medical school in Memphis, I knew I couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. Her unwavering support and love during that time solidified my desire to marry her. The moment I decided to propose was on our Hawaii vacation. It was the 1999th day of our journey together, and I couldn't have picked a more special person to spend the rest of my days with.
When I proposed, her reaction was a mix of happiness, tears, and genuine surprise, even though she claims she knew it all along. I'll never forget her first words after the proposal: YES!” followed shortly by, “You have to put the ring on my finger!” a classic Alex one-liner.
Our journey together has been one filled with adventures, big and small, but every day with Alex is an adventure in itself. She brings joy and laughter into my life (along with planning… a lot of planning), making even the toughest chapters of life like medical school easier to bear.
Looking ahead, I envision a life filled with more laughter, more adventures, and countless shared memories. The love we've built together is the foundation for a lifetime of happiness, and I can't wait to cherish each and every moment with her.