Our story takes place back in 2019. It is a coincidence between two people in the same place, an unexpected / unexplainable connection, and an instant spark that grew from two different states.

I, Katie, was born in Illinois and spent my early years growing up in Michigan until around 2010. From there I spent my later years growing up, back in Illinois. My Michigan years gave my family a few life long friends that no matter the states in between, we remained close. We kept in touch, seeing each other a couple of times a year, as often as we could make it work. When we got older the bond stayed the same even as we were graduating high school, and then college. For this particular college graduation party, I did not think I would be able to make it, due to my work denying my time off request. To my surprise, my boss changed his mind on the day my mom was supposed to leave for Michigan without me. I gladly went home, packed up, and went about our usual route to go see some old friends.

Rick was born and raised in Michigan. Conveniently, his life brought him to the same college my childhood friend's brother went to, where he and Rick became friends. Rick had been deep into studying for finals that semester, finishing his final exam late the afternoon of the grad party. He was exhausted from the end of semester strain, and almost didn't go, but decided that it was a good opportunity to celebrate not only his friend, but the end of the semester.

It was at this grad party that we met, and instantly knew something great was about to come from this.

We started talking consistently a couple weeks after the party through social media, and within a short four months I was packed up and moved back to Michigan with my cat; all for love. In a short time, our fur family grew to three cats and a dog, quite a full house.

We have made it through covid shutdown and renovating two houses. We are looking forward to everything that is to come next!