Jen and Chris have known each other much longer than they have been together. Studying Drafting at BVT and running cross country together, they spent a lot of their high school years in each other's company. One of Jen's first diary entries from high school (in 2010) even read, "Chris is extremely annoying".

Fast forward to February 2022: With gentle prodding from their good friends Jacob and Shannon Moon, Jen and Chris made a plan to go out for coffee. After a maternally overwhelming baby shower for the Moons, that coffee date turned into a stiff drink. And that day turned into the next day. And then the next, sending Jen and Chris into a whirlwind of dates, spending nearly every day of the next two weeks together. It was exactly one week after their first date when Jen requested Chris ask her to be his girlfriend.

Our confidence that we were endgame was present from that first week, and stayed with us, dictating all of our decisions henceforward. Eight months into dating, Chris proposed that instead of waiting for an apartment together, "let's buy a house". Had we not acted upon our complete faith that we were it, that decision would not have been made. One month of house hunting later, we started calling Framingham, MA home together.

There is a moment that sticks out from early 2022. Jen had gone out with a friend, and Chris picked her up still tipsy from the night in the city. Staring at him from the passenger seat with a goofy smile plastered on her face, she said:

"I'm gonna marry you."

Still as firm as Jen's always been that we were endgame. It's become a bit of a mantra for us since then.

Back to the present: Months have gone by since moving to Framingham. There were projects on the house, purchasing a new vehicle, our first international trip, caring for our fish tank... and then it was time to take the next step. The day after a long trip back from Buffalo, Jen declared the day was Chris' to decide their activities. Just like that, a perfect opportunity presented itself for the proposal.

Suggesting a bike ride to Pelham Island Road to visit our favorite spot at Heard Pond, the ring lay tightly secured in Chris' pant pocket.

I'm gonna marry you.

Upon arrival Jen could not have made it easier.

Her:

"Oh look we can go in this little alcove!"

"And there's a stump for me to sit on!"

"Are you going to sit?"

Him:

"Will you marry me?"

Wachusett Dam