I knew I wanted to propose on a hike because that is our favorite thing to do together. I also new that it couldn't be on another holiday (had to be spontaneous) and that she didn't want anyone else around. Brenna's dad, Russ is a goldsmith so I knew he had to be the one to make Brenna's engagement ring.

This was during COVID and was extremely tough to do without Brenna knowing, because we were stuck together even more than usual. I had to take Springsteen on a lot of walks to talk on the phone with Russ about how the ring making process was going and what I needed to do to get it to Fort Collins from Minnesota.

Russ shipped it to me so it would be coming in the mail, which would be another issue if Brenna happened to be the one to get the mail and she saw a box from her dad to me. Luckily, I had to sign to receive the package so when they couldn't put it in the mailbox I was able to pick it up at the post office. Here is when the next problem occurred.

The post office is very close to the park I go to play basketball so I told Brenna I was going to the park, when I actually went to the post office to pick up the ring! At first, the post office couldn't find the package, which was extremely worrying. They told me they would call if they found it. What an awful thing to hear when there is an engagement ring in the package you are expecting! So I went to the park to actually play basketball hoping they would call. They did call while I was at the park and they found the package, what a relief. The next problem was keeping the ring hidden from Brenna, so it lived in my sock drawer for a bit.

The day of the proposal finally came, we were going on a hike to Coyote Ridge, which was an extremely hot hike, but had a beautiful view at the end. When we got to the end of the hike there was a bench to sit on the overlooked the Coyote Ridge area. I got down on one knee and asked Brenna to marry me. Although I knew what she was going to say I was so nervous, even Brenna said she knew something weird was going on because of how I was acting. When she said yes I tried to put the ring on her finger, it didn't fit. Turns out Brenna's fingers got a little swollen from the altitude. Thankfully, when we got back to the car the ring did fit.

This whole story from sneaking around to call Russ about the ring, to the ring not fitting right away because of the altitude, is a story we will never forget.

Registry