Our story begins in 1978 at Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Andrew and I met as 6th graders. We shared the same circle of friends, creating memories filled with laughter and youthful adventures.

As the years went on, our paths continued to cross. I cheered on the sidelines at Lakewood High School as Andrew played football, always rooting for him, and he voted for me as class president as part of our shared journey. Those formative years shaped a bond that quietly endured, even as life took us in different directions.

Beyond our Florida roots, our love for the mountains was also set in motion long ago. Andrew spent his childhood summers in Bryson City then Franklin with his grandparents and parents, while I was about an hour southeast in Glenville, making memories with mine. Long before we knew how special this place—and each other—would become, the mountains were already part of our story. Now, after decades of life’s twists and turns, we’ve come full circle and found our way back to one another, and the Blue Ridge backdrop of our youth. Our love and friendship has traveled from the beaches to the mountains, finding its way home.

We look forward to celebrating with you on June 1 and are thrilled to reconnect with our classmates at our fortieth LHS reunion on June 27 🖤💛