Sam introduced Michelle to shuffleboard on their first date at Royal Palms, on Ash Wednesday in 2022. He belonged to a weekly shuffleboard league and was a seasoned semi-pro before meeting Michelle. He was bold enough to invite her to his home turf on the first date, but risked it for showing off his low lunges and "athletic" abilities for a first impression. Sam still teases about his first impression of Michelle being a very strict Catholic, as she walked into the date with a forehead covered in ashes. The date went until last call and Michelle got a text the next morning asking when he could see her again.

Michelle convinced Sam to not only buy concert tickets with her, but a four-day pass to a country music festival Windy City Smokeout. Sam was blissfully unaware at the time how many more concerts he would be convinced to go to. Little did they know at the time, but they were falling hard and fast for each other.

Sam invited Michelle to join her on Cape Cod as a plus one to a wedding for Sam McManus (groomsman). This was their first true vacation together. Sam was able to show Michelle his old stomping grounds from when he lived in Boston and after the wedding, they went to Martha's vineyard and drove up the cape to Province Town.

Sam and Michelle had their first adventure in the fresh snow of Colorado when visiting Rachel and Mike. Sam showed off his ski skills and tried his best to turn Michelle's "pizza" skis into "french fries" to no avail. Alas, the beer was refreshing, the sun was shining, and views were fantastic.

Sam and Dan came up with the epic idea to lease a sailboat over the summer. Spending time on the lake sailing quickly became a highlight of each week and our favorite summer activity. Sam grew up sailing in Sea Scouts and had fun teaching Michelle the ropes (...I mean LINES!). Sailing is such a peaceful escape from the bustle of the city and there's something about the lake that is therapeutic for the soul.

Michelle and Sam flew across the pond on a heritage trip with the extended Durkin family. Ireland's expansive lush green hills, country roads, and dramatic cliff sides were more than breath taking. The family trip was so magical and strengthened the bonds between everyone as they walked the cobblestone streets into a pub that their great grandparents used to sit in. There also was something in the water in Ireland during the Durkin family vacation, because the three girlfriends that made the trip are all joining the family officially in 2025.

If Sam has yet to tell you, he broke his leg in October of 2023... We were all set to move in together in the second week of October. An electric scooter malfunctioned on his ride home from the office the week before and he fell hard and fractured his femur. Sam, per usual, was calm and knew what to do and who to call. We still moved in together as planned, although it looked a little different than expected. Even though Sam was in an insurmountable amount of pain, he still was so appreciative and thoughtful to send me flowers the week after the accident. The next few weeks, months, and years were spent rehabbing the injury and getting stronger. He now has the plate and screws out too and will happily show you pictures of the hardware with pride!

This time around, Sam and Michelle took off to Portugal with Rose and Dave. They left with unforgettable memories of their trip. From listening to Fado, biking the streets of Lisbon, hiking the calderas, jumping waves on the black sand beaches of the Azores, and floating down the Duoro River drinking endless wine.

Michelle was setting goals for the year when she broached the idea of doing a triathlon. Sam was in full support and convinced her to go big and sign up for the Olympic distance triathlon. He was her biggest cheerleader, helping her pick out a new bike, stay on track with workouts, and even rode his bike alongside her the day of the race, blasting music to help her get through the run.

At the tail end of the second season sailing, Sam told Michelle that he was able to pick up a last minute sailing slot on Thursday and that they should go out together with just them two on the boat after work. It was the perfect fall sunset, calm waters, good winds, and such a peaceful and relaxing evening reminiscing. Sam tricked Michelle into pretending their was an oncoming boat that they had to steer clear of, before dropping to one knee and popping the question. The rest of the night was pure bliss. We popped a bottle of sparkling wine that tasted like the stars, polished off some Jersey Mike subs, and watched the harvest moon come up over the city.

Michelle & Sam decided to head west to Denver, Colorado and chase new adventures together. They found the house of their dreams in a picturesque little neighborhood called Sunnyside. Chicago will always be home, but they are so excited to build a life together there.