The Meeting

I first met Campbell in 2009, when we were both fourteen. I was starting my freshman year of high school at Sacred Heart Academy and he was starting at Saint Xavier High School. It was at a Church picnic, where Campbell caught my eye and attention by insisting that he was "one-fourth French". However, my Maid of Honor, Kinsey, debunked this short-lived tale two hours later, informing me that Campbell is not French at all. But I'd already exchanged phone numbers with him and we dated for two weeks before the relationship came to an end. We stayed cordial acquaintances throughout our high school years, running around in the same friend groups. College came and we went our separate ways, Campbell to Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, me to the University of Kentucky.

The Reconnect

During my sophomore year of college, I decided to add Campbell on Snapchat. We managed to keep in causal contact through the app, and two months later when winter break rolled around, we both found ourselves back home in Louisville. He asked me on a date and I agreed. We ended up hanging out every day until it was time to part ways and go back to college. Because we'd grown so close, we decided to give the "long-distance relationship" thing a shot.

The Long Distance

10 hours away: We were almost constantly 10 hours apart for two years. We desperately wanted to see each other, but with Campbell busy with Spring season soccer, it was up to me to close the gap. I ended up telling my dad that I was visiting friends in D.C., but once I hit D.C., I jumped on an Amtrak train and headed to Pennsylvania (I still don't think my dad knows this part of the story. If you're reading this, sorry, Dad)! This was the start of many back-and-forth- trips, lots of plane tickets we couldn't afford, and many hours spent cramped in cars for the sake of being together for two days every two months. And then we were only . . .

1 hour away: Campbell graduated from Lafayette a semester early, but I was graduating a semester late, which meant our long distance was down to an hour drive. But an hour is an hour, and I was busy finishing up school and Campbell started playing soccer at the the University of Louisville while working on his MBA. We were able to spend every weekend together and I made sure to make it to all of his soccer games. Just when we thought the long distance was over, one hour turned into . . .

7 hours away: We spent one short month living in the same city, then I was off to Charlotte, where I had landed my dream job working for Red Bull. Campbell was still working on his MBA so he stayed in Louisville. But hey, we'd done it before! We knew we'd get through the distance, just like we always had.

The Move

F I N A L L Y, in August of 2018, it was time to close the gap between us. Campbell received his MBA from the University of Louisville and hopped in the car after his last class. Two trips to move his things, one stuffed shark that took up most of the room during a trip, and one blown transmission later, Campbell moved in with me in Charlotte, NC. We spent the next year and a half enjoying lots of breweries, Carolina sunsets, and walks with our doggo, Roux. while waiting to embark on our favorite journey yet- making sure we are never long distance again.

M&C