Lauren: It started with a Bumble match and my first message to Chris of, “So I kinda have a thing for nurses.” Chris set our first date right away and we did not talk much leading up to it. On the day of our date, he pushed the meet up time back to 8:30 (way past this grandma’s bedtime)... but, I went out to meet him on a rainy, cold Wednesday night. Our first date was… mediocre. I enjoyed our conversation but wasn’t too sure that he was into it. We left the first date with a hug and no promise of another. I was surprised when I got a text from him the next day asking to go out again.

Chris: Our second date proved to be a preview of many of the themes that color our relationship now. These include, but are not limited to: my broken gay-dar, Lauren’s delicate palate, and the simple pleasure of sharing a beer with some decent company. Without a doubt, the highlight of the date was the end with the last first kiss I would ever have.

Lauren: From the beginning, our relationship progressed very naturally and we knew we wanted to see where it would go. Our mutual love for travel led to a travel trial run with a long weekend in Memphis, TN. Fortunately, we learned over a 7 hour road trip, a Graceland Christmas and an Elton John cover band, that we travel just fine together.

Chris: It was on another trip that I knew this relationship was something special. In January of 2022 we went to Austin, TX for a wedding. While liberally enjoying the food and libations at the rehearsal dinner, Lauren and I took a moment to enjoy the view of Rainey Street from our balcony perch. I knew I was in love the moment she turned to me and said seriously, “Let’s take full advantage of this open bar and go find a slide.”

Lauren: Though we had established that we loved one another, the question of what to do when Chris started travel nursing again in the summer still lingered. I knew he did not want to stop traveling but he also did not want a long distance relationship. I knew this was a relationship I really cared about keeping. So like a true stage five clinger, I told him I’d come with.

Chris: I was surprised, but by no means disappointed, to hear that Lauren would consider leaving behind her home and career to see the country with me. But, she did and I will be forever grateful to her. From that moment on, all of our energy was spent building a life together as we gathered our belongings, pointed our compass west, and hit the open road.

And hit it we did. Since leaving Indy in the summer of 2022 we have criss-crossed the American West as we explored the country, challenged ourselves, and grew closer as a couple. The road was not always easy, but guided by our devotion to one another, it eventually led us to an out of the way dirt track near Page, AZ, where as the sun sank low in the desert sky, Lauren agreed to be my wife.

Lauren: Traveling with and agreeing to marry Chris are two of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made, and I know this is just the beginning of so many adventures we will meet together.