I grew up spending every weekend at this little place in Patriot, IN that we like to simply call, "The River." My parents bought the place in 1994, when I was 4 years old. Every birthday party, summer holiday, and just regular weekends were spent surrounded by family and friends. My sister and I would ride her go cart around the field and practice driving school with the golf carts. Every once in awhile, my Uncle Gary would let us ride the Quad runners (only if you had helmets!) and my most favorite activity, TUBING! When Mr. Florian would come down with his speed boat, I couldn't contain my excitement to get out in that river water that some people can't believe I ever swam in. Every night we would spend surrounded by the fire, being scared of the notorious neighbor, Mr. Schmutte, or as my Grandma would call him "Shitty Schmutte". Eventually, our parents put us to bed in our little bunk beds where if you sat up all the way you would hit your head so damn hard on a glass light. We could still see the orange glow from the fire as the adults partied on. Just like every summer ends, so did my parents era at the river. They sold their half of the place to my Aunt Laura and Uncle Gary Graman. Then started my 1 -2 weekends a year visiting the Gramans. I still loved The River but I also loved going out with my friends and partying (who Emily?!)

Brett and his dad, Bill, started visiting their friends, the Schmutte's, in 1994. Brett was about 10 years old. He remembers seeing me next door running around with my sister and sitting on my mom's lap around the fire. I am not sure if that is sweet or creepy. I have NO recollection of him being down there until I was about 15 years old. Maybe my hormones kicked in and I started noticing the hot older guy that was always staring at me. But from those days of running around in the fields, I only remember my first true childhood love, Rob Florian (ha!).

In 2003, Brett's parents bought their own place a few doors down and were now regular River Goers.Out with the old, in with the new. I was now a visitor and Brett's family had their own place. Fast forward a few years and I was Bill's partner in our annual cornhole tournament, (2nd place!) I would always hear from my Uncle and the other guys at the river that Brett was in love with me. I just smiled, giggled, and shrugged it off that they were joking. Brett would always be hanging back in his mysterious way, but never hesitate to make fun of me for changing my clothes 5 times a day.

In 2014, Brett bought his own place at the river. I would purposefully walk by his place when he was outside to start a conversation. He was also doing work at my parents house (bonus!) He started becoming more open about his love for me. Constantly asking my cousins and even my dad, "When is she going to go out with me?" Unfortunately I was taken and would just laugh it off.

Eventually, I was single. I ran into a mutual friend, Carra Sparks at The Scoreboard, who once again told me about Brett's love for me. He told me we would be amazing together. Now that I was single, it stuck. I needed some work done at my house and my amazing group of cousins were heading out to plan out the work. I decided we needed Brett there right? To do some excavation? My dad said, "No, I don't think we will need him." Too bad. I called him anyway and asked him to come over and help.

From there, really the rest is history. Brett likes to say I dropped the zero and ended up with the hero and that he was just waiting for me all this time. (LOL) Now we still spend every weekend at The River. Now our days are spent having beers on the boat and hanging out on Emperors Island. My other love, Cohen, is in Heaven running around playing fetch NONSTOP. It is our home away from home surrounded by both of our families and friends. I feel so lucky that I am almost tearing up writing about it. Now I am the adult partying at the fire while my little cousins are in bed after spending the day doing the same things my sister and I would do. Our closet from our bedroom is still in tact with our Little Mermaid life jacket and board games. My heart and my love are both at The River.