“Is this the line for the Pikes Peak Bus?” Dylan asked, smiling deviously. The girl he was speaking to was standing under a sign that said “Pikes Peak Bus” and was somewhat surprised by the question. She was wearing a pulled-back bun and glasses, a baggy University of Colorado sweatshirt, and had just landed in Denver after a brutal 6:00AM flight out of Chicago. “Yeah, I think so”, she said, sweetly, wondering if this poor blonde guy could even read. “Oh, thanks. I’m Dylan by the way.” He was with two friends, who stood a few feet behind him giggling like little school children who had sent their friend on a dare. Music blared out of his phone. “Your Love” by the Outfield. “I don’t want to lose your love, toniiiiiiiight”. 80’s music, at 7:30 in the morning, at a public airport. Truly atrocious behavior by any measure. Still, she couldn’t help but feel enraptured by his cheerful attitude, his hypnotizing blue eyes, and his tall, muscular, almost Olympian-like frame. “Hi, I’m Alison” she said. Dylan was somewhat taken aback by her friendliness, her openness, the ease of their conversation…and just how cute she was under those big, thick glasses.

By the time the bus pulled up, they were chatting like old friends, talking about college football. Alison had gone to the University of Colorado and confirmed that she was not, in fact, a current undergraduate there, as Dylan had thought. Dylan had gone to Notre Dame, and was not, in fact, still in high school. He had just returned from a Notre Dame game with his friends, and coincidentally, they had both been on the same flight back from Chicago. They spent a few effortless moments chatting, and before long the Pikes Peak Bus arrived. As they boarded the bus, Dylan knew his window was closing, and something inside of him compelled him to make a move, a bold move, and quick! “Do you want to go out sometime?” He handed her his phone, and to his exuberant surprise, she put her number in.

Almost 10 years later, we will gather in the mountains with all of our closest friends and family for a summer solstice wedding celebration…We can’t wait to see you there!