Jeff and Michelle first met in the fall of 2013, after being introduced by their mutual friend, Will Whiffen. They remained friends in the succeeding years until the summer of 2016, when Jeff joined the New York Athletic Club, where Michelle was also a member. Michelle, fancying herself a club veteran (despite having been a member for just 11 months), insisted that she introduce Jeff to Traver's Island, NYAC's summer clubhouse in Westchester.

After Jeff's inaugural voyage to Traver's Island in June 2016, Michelle and Jeff spent countless weekends over the next three months traipsing to and from Traver's Island, to the point where it became routine. Jeff would get provisions for the 45 minute ride to the club and promptly fall asleep while Michelle would inevitably spend the 45 minute bus ride on work calls. Once at the club, they would set up their chairs overlooking the Long Island Sound and spend the rest of the day talking, eating and drinking. Through innumerable hours of conversation, Jeff and Michelle discovered how much they had in common, and how similar their values and outlook on life was. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, that quickly blossomed into something more.

By the end of the summer, the budding couple's friendship had percolated into the rest of their lives and Michelle invited Jeff to Nantucket for a long weekend. The scenery changed but nothing else did; they spent three days doing what they did all summer - eating, drinking and talking. And, despite staying in a house of no fewer than five bedrooms, slept on couches in living room each night (yes, separate ones for the traditionalist out there). On the last night, after cooking dinner, dancing around the kitchen, and lounging under the stars, Michelle and Jeff had their first kiss. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

P.S.

Michelle wanted to write this in bullet points using an automated chat bot. Jeff insisted on full sentences.