2012: Despite growing up in neighborhoods only a few miles apart, Colin and Nova's first time meeting each other in high school was very short-lived. We were both members of "Venture Crew 165", an early co-ed version of The Boy Scouts of America. For Nova, the memory of a time in which they went camping and one of the other scouts brought a real deer heart to eat is still vivid in her mind. When offered the chance to eat it, she replied "No, I would rather dissect it". Colin, on the other hand, ate it without hesitation. Nova's first opinion of Colin at this time was "Wow...he's tall", while Colin thought was "Wow, she is pretty" (or whatever boys think at that time). Then, like ships passing in the night, they went their separate ways for college (Southwestern University to study Biology and Biochemistry for Nova, UT Austin to study Music for Colin). However, they would reconnect soon after...

---Fast forward a couple breakups and years later---

2016: Nova was working with rats in the University of Texas at Austin Biochemistry lab under the direction of Amanda Holley. One day Amanda asked her "So....how long has it been since you broke up with your high school sweetheart?" and Nova stated "2 years". So Amanda grabbed her phone, created a bumble account for her, and then proceeded to swipe right and left while Nova sliced right and left on a rat brain. By the end of the day, Amanda had already set up a date for her with a handsome musician. She even gave her an hour off to go see this mystery man at Fuzzy's Tacos, right down the street. Colin and Nova ended up spending three hours straight at this taco shop near UT campus, until finally Colin dropped a bombshell: "Well...I guess you don't remember me". Nova then got out her phone and, being absolutely certain of never seeing this man in her life prior to this, began questioning whether or not to call a friend or possibly even the police. Promptly, Colin then pulled out a photo of them in Venture Crew 165 together (which can be found on the photos page) and showed it to her. Thankfully, Nova did not call 911 that day and instead gave Colin her phone number.

October 18th 2016 Colin and Nova became boyfriend and girlfriend and have been in love with each other ever since.

Thank you so much for contributing to the start of a new Houlihan Family! I really hope we get to see you at the wedding to express our thanks in person! With much love, Nova and Colin