It's a rainy Tuesday night. Felicia and her best friend Kurstin are out having dinner when Kurstin decides to invite her coworker Mitchell. She calls him and he answers, unaware he is on speaker phone. "What are you up to!?" Kurstin asked. "Trimming my guinea pigs nails....." Mitchell replies.

Mitchell then hears the laughter of a woman in the background. It was at this moment regret filled through his body. "Well I have someone I would like you to meet!" Kurstin said excitedly.

The rest, as they say, is history. Mitchell spent the next 3 hours in conversation with Felicia, discovering they shared similar beliefs on just about everything and had strikingly similar stories of rough teenage years and redemption.

It wasn't long after that Felicia was able to meet Mitchell's three guinea pigs; Krumpet, Floppy and Grizzly. It took awhile but after a few dates & lots of carrots she earned their approval and became a member of the family.

Fun fact, Felicia and Mitchell finished their first half marathon just a few miles from where they will be getting married, at Cliffs Pavilion in Worlds End State Park. Regarded by many as one of the hardest trail races in the country, the half marathon has 6400ft of elevation change, passing by several scenic overlooks, rivers, creeks and bridges. Felicia and Mitchell both consider it the most difficult - but rewarding - thing they have ever done.

Felicia and I had visited Cayuga Lake in the New York State Finger Lakes region for the first time in 2021. Felicia mentioned several times during the trip she had fallen in love with the area and could live there forever. We had agreed to return at some point down the road, but what Felicia didn't realize is I had already spoke to the host and reserved the cabin for the following year with some big plans in mind....

Fast forward to September 2022. Felicia had no idea where we were going as I had kept it a surprise all this time... I just told her to pack her bags and enjoy the ride. Once we arrived at the lakeside cabin she found flowers in a vase awaiting us, and began dressing up for what I told her was a "very nice boat ride".

Here I am walking her down to the dock, knowing full well there is no boat waiting for us. I'm fiddling with my pockets trying to get the ring box in the perfect position while we descend down the never-ending stairs.

Once we arrive at the dock Felicia and I spend a moment together, enjoying the view of the Lake. In true Felicia fashion, she senses someone's presence and spins around to check it out. "Who is that strange lady taking pictures of us!?" she quips. I respond "Well I guess it's time I ask you an important question"...

I get down on one knee and before I can even ask if she will marry me, Felicia yells "MITCHELL!!" and stomps her foot, not sure if she should be upset that I was able to pull this off without her knowledge, or ecstatic that she will be spending the rest of her life with me.

How I was able to pull off this entire plan without her having the slightest clue, I have no idea. What can be certain is that I owe her one heck of a boat ride....