I was in the process of a hectic move from Flagstaff, AZ to the Phoenix area when I first toured the DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Chandler for a prospective job. I interviewed and toured the building on Valentine's Day, 2022 (foreshadowing?) with the (then) Director of Sales. When viewing the employee-only area of the hotel, Josh and I first saw each other in the laundry room. How romantic! As soon as our eyes met, I knew I felt some sort of connection, and I was confident he felt it too because he stumbled over his words for a minute before stopping me and saying, "hey... let me show you the boiler room!" What can I say, Josh is smoother than ex-lax.

After accepting the job at the hotel, Josh and I grew closer over conversations about his odd taste in music and the frustration of setting up for banquet events. Before I knew it, he would leave a morning cup of coffee on my desk before I got to work each morning. 2022 was a very difficult year for my family, but Josh's unwavering support and stability gave me the strength to get through the most difficult season of my life.

During our years together, Josh and I have:

-survived a 5 day, 37-hour road trip with two cats and a senior Chihuahua

-been the beneficiaries of the Cat Distribution System twice

-visited Scotland for a whole month

-attended two concerts of our favorite Sea Shanty band, The Longest Johns

-attended three Cubs games - one when the cubbies were in Arizona, one with Clare, and one for the famous Kane family Bleacher Bum Day 2024

Along the way, we found home in each other. And I am thankful for every moment.

When we first met, we were both working at the double tree. She was coming down to look at the property, and I was tasked with walking her around, as I did most new staff. We ended up chatting for awhile longer. I tend to ask people about their music taste and got her into listening to all sorts of new things. We spent a lot of time together through banquets and we both did a lot more than just our jobs there. And now here we are, some years later, two cats richer, and back in good ole Ohio. As she moved to Ohio with me, I'm guessing that means she likes me, right? In all seriousness, I am overjoyed that we are where we are, and I wouldn't want to go down all these winding roads without her. And now add everything she said that is much more thought out here.