As Ashley and I look forward to our wedding date and what will become our anniversary, it's worth noting that I may never be able to let her live down our first important "date" which was December 1st, 2011...our "dating" anniversary. Especially considering, I think I asked her out....3 times?....before she finally said yes.

Our paths crossed multiple times, as they typically do on a small campus like Bradley University. I actually gave a lecture to her class, unbeknownst to me at the time, she was sitting in the back of the class (probably causing trouble :-P). I think we actually played a rousing game of beer pong at a few SigEp parties against one another, but yet, still neither of us really gave the other a second pass, just friendly pleasantries.

It really wasn't until I had asked one of my now groomsmen, Scott, to come pick me up from Bradley. Before heading to Eastern University for the weekend I had asked Scott to come a day early and head out to the bars before beginning our trek to Charleston. We went to CAM's on Farmington Rd. Something just seemed different about that night, considering CAM's had become a spot I began frequenting more and more my Senior year...something special. It will sound corny, but as if a light was shown only over Ashley and nowhere else in the bar that night, there she was! I immediately gave Scott a smack on the arm and I quote, "I'm gonna date that girl!"

Off to the races, I pursued the Gamma Phi Beta girl. Eating one too many grilled cheeses at Sorority functions. Or seemingly pestering my brother and Kiley about what her plans may have been that weekend and if there was a way I could interject myself into the mix. How about forming great friendships which still last today with her own housemates at 1612? Looking at you Jessica! Either way, Ashley still says to this day, she thought I was making friends at 1612 to court her housemates....always the selfless one!

All that being said, all that being done, after what seemed like an eternity of trying to make good on that statement I had told Scott way back when, on December 1st, we finally made our relationship official and sealed it with a kiss....where else, but where it all started...at CAM's on Farmington Rd.

-Rob

(P.S. I also realize that I ended a story with a nod to CAM's, I intend to write more of these as to not culminate our relationship stories with a reference to a bar. Love you honey!)