Back in August 2020, the pandemic changed a lot. After we got back to UF, we both had friends who were looking to meet new people and try new things. So one weekend in August, Robbie's friend from the club swim team and Rhyan's friend from her community service org invited us and some others to their shared apartment.

We didn't get to talk that first night, but a week or two later we were both invited back for a Hot Ones party (Hot Ones is a challenge where people eat chicken wings with hot sauces that increase in intensity as you eat more). And on that night, we found something in common: we realized that we both are NOT spicy food people. So we had some Chick-fil-A sauce while our friends burned their tongues for enjoyment.

It took one more meeting before we exchanged numbers, but when we did, we texted for days. About a week later, Rhyan asked Robbie if he wanted to study together. And that was where our relationship began.

A couple months later, we went on our first adventure; an adventure that probably made everyone a little nervous. Robbie’s parents, Jackie and Neal, took us on their sailboat to visit Key West and the Dry Tortugas for the new year. This was also the first time Rhyan was meeting Robbie’s family, spending seven days in a confined space, three of those days in which we were at sea with no sight of escape...

Luckily, everything went well. We had a great time ringing in the 2021 new year and celebrating Rhyan’s 22nd birthday at the southernmost point of the US. Considering that no one was thrown overboard or forced to walk the plank, we’d call that a win!

The summer of 2021 was probably the biggest test of our relationship. We had tentatively planned to sail with Robbie’s parents up to Chesapeake, VA from Venice; that is, until some harsh weather derailed our plans (but that’s a long story for another time). We had made it to South Carolina before the storm hit, but had to sail back to Daytona to assess some damage to the boat. We decided to get off the boat while Jackie and Neal sailed it back to Venice, but while they were gone we were naturally tasked with house-and-dog sitting in their absence. So while we continued to take our summer classes online, we did just that. We cooked, cleaned, and looked after Roxy until they returned.

The next month, Robbie got to meet Rhyan’s family for the first time. We spent a week at Flagler Beach with Rhyan’s parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. Everyone was so excited to meet Robbie, and we had such a wonderful time with Rhyan’s family, who we don't get to see very often. We went to the beach, chilled by the pool, and definitely watched our fair share of the Olympics (marathon swimming and biathlons can get crazy apparently).

After that summer, we went back to UF to finish up our degrees. We went to football games, took some trips to Universal with our friends, and played lots of cards (mainly Euchre). In late April/early May, we finally graduated! Robbie completed his BS in Computer Engineering and Rhyan finished her Masters in Accounting. So it was time to celebrate that all of our hard (and mostly online) work finally paid off. It was a hectic time; between our families meeting for the first time, saying goodbye to our friends, and celebrating that we were officially Gator Alumni, we needed a break after all the excitement.

Instead we went on a cruise. This was Rhyan’s first cruise, so she was SO excited. We’re so grateful that we got to spend seven days visiting the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk. But the cruise was more than just a vacation. The third day of the cruise, we were out at sea. We started the day out with a couples’ massage (hint #1) before wandering around the ship. Later in the afternoon, it was time to get ready for formal night. So we dressed our best (hint #2) and had a very romantic dinner. Then we went out to Deck 8 to go take a peek at the sunset (hint #3). This is where Robbie proposed. Of course she said yes, but it took about two minutes for her to grasp that it was actually real (she didn’t pick up on those hints). So we celebrated with some cocktails and the comedy show. Robbie had spoken to the stewardess beforehand, so when we got back to the room, there were rose petals, a towel swan, and a congratulatory message written on the mirror. It’s a night we’ll never forget!

Throughout the rest of the trip we managed to hike, ride buggies, and slide down waterfalls in Damajagua, snorkel in Turks and Caicos, and enjoy some good food, drinks, and entertainment on the ship. That is, until the 6th night. We didn’t know it at the time, but Rhyan was showing her first symptoms of COVID, which both of us had managed to evade up until that point.

So the day after we got back to land, staying at Robbie’s parents, Rhyan went to CVS to take a COVID test. Of course they lost it, so it took another two days to get a test and by then it was pretty clear that she had caught the virus during the cruise. So she was isolated for a few days in the bedroom, and when it was confirmed, Robbie tested positive too. So we spent another few days together in isolation.

And the day that we were cleared for human contact was the day that we moved into our new apartment! Phew, that was a busy three weeks. We managed to graduate, go on a cruise, get engaged, catch COVID, and move into a new apartment all in that time. And a few days later, Robbie would start his job as a software engineer at Fanatics. And to wrap up the excitement, Rhyan would soon be starting her job as an auditor at KPMG.

Since we moved in together, we’ve still done quite a few things while we settle into our new life together. Robbie’s parents have let us “foster” Roxy to help us determine if we want a dog of our own, Robbie got a new electric car, and we’ve been planning our wedding. In the midst, we made it up to Connecticut (Robbie’s first time) for Thanksgiving with the Nedobitys, down to Venice for Christmas with the Obendorfs, and to the Everglades for a swamp walk. We’ve also been back to Gainesville for football and Orlando to visit our friends at their new apartment. We’re excited about the life we’re building together, and are so excited for what comes next!