Our Story began on New Year’s Eve 2015 on the Metra heading toward Chicago. Being from Crystal Lake, the Metra train station is a popular mode of transportation. With over a foot of snow on the ground and last-minute plans for NYE; I reluctantly decided to attend a party at a friend’s downtown. Little did I know that night would change my life forever.

It’s definitely true what they say, “You’ll find love when you’re not looking for it.” Caitlin is from Palatine which is roughly twenty minutes from CL and is closer to the city. As the conductor called out the Palatine stop, I noticed a new wave of passengers boarding. Sitting on the 2nd level I honestly had tried to keep my distance from other holiday travelers. Before I knew it, an amazing, vibrant and energetic girl sat down next to me. You could hear the sound of her voice over the other passengers walking up the stairs. Glancing over casually I noticed she was even more wonderful up close! Keeping my composure and trying to “play it cool,” I planned my next move.

It all happened so fast. Before I knew it, the Clybourn stop was approaching and time was running out. Next thing I knew we were walking off the train. As I trailed behind her, I saw her slowing down and some unsavory characters started to approach her.

In a bold move, I instinctively reacted, running up to her while throwing my arms around hers in order to deter the individuals from approaching. She played along and we were off to our respective NYE parties. All I could think of was Caitlin! I had lost total interest in the party I was attending.

Over the coming weeks and months, we began dating. Off and on we went for the next couple of years only to end up together right before the global pandemic. It had been a long and winding road up until this point. Caitlin had just started a new career with Cannon Solutions America. Caitlin and I both had studied and graduated at Northern Illinois University. I like to think that our paths had already crossed while we were in school together. I had served in the US Army for almost a decade and was deployed to Afghanistan on a 12-man QRF team; training the Afghan Army and police. Being sent all over the world I was never in one place for very long and it still amazes me how small the world really is…We had found each other! Our one person to take on the world!

Fittingly, I had planned to propose on the same Metra train line where I had met her. After picking out the ring, I had strategically planned to coordinate with her sister Courtney… Being in the military we classified and planned everything and had a call sign for whatever mission we were on. I had dubbed the mission “Operation Dinner Out” to keep it a secret until the proposal.

December 3rd, 2022 had finally come! It was the moment of truth and I was ready! Caitlin was under the impression that we would be enjoying a long weekend away in the city, just the two of us. However, the plan was to propose on the way from Crystal Lake to Palatine while our families were all meeting up to surprise us at the Palatine stop. She had no idea this was coming and everything worked out better than I(we) had imagined! On an empty cart on the upper level of the Metra I asked Caitlin Brianna Nowlan to be my wife! Minutes later I told her that we would be stopping in Palatine where a bunch of our family & friends were waiting to celebrate with us! It was our very own happily ever after…

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