The first time I saw Sarah she was part of an inspection team working at my job in Valdez. She had oversized coveralls and a bright orange hardhat. Our interaction lasted about 5 minutes as her and the team passed through the area. A well mentioned offer to buy the group a beer if I saw them at the brewery after work solidified my second interaction.

I drug a friend out with me after work and went to the brewery where we waited until just before last call, we had actually paid and were walking out the door, when in walked Sarah. Good to my word, I bought her and the group a beer. Since we had already decided to go get food before the Nat Shack closed, I was already set on counting our interactions as a missed opportunity and was walking away when she asked for my number! “In case I have any follow up questions.” She slyly said. I was amazed. Obviously, she got my number.

I texted her where we were headed and invited her along. She agreed to follow us there after they finished their beer. So once again I was waiting for Sarah (something I would gladly do for the indefinite future.) After she arrived, we ended up talking for what felt like hours. There were other people there and I’m sure everyone conversed, but I only remember the way Sarah made me feel. After that first interaction we’ve talked or texted every day.

Months before we went to Australia, I had a ring. I just wasn’t so sure on where to propose. It seemed like such a daunting task. I felt like Sarah would have enjoyed a night in with the dogs as the backdrop for our story as much as a somewhere exotics or perhaps in Chicago near where she grew up. Either way, I knew I had to pop the question before our scheduled hot air balloon ride in Australia.

Months prior in one of our conversations Sarah posed the question “what would you say if I proposed to you.” My answer at the time, “I’ll say yes if its in a hot air balloon.” Now I’m not even sure Sarah remembered this answer or if her fascination with going in a hot air balloon came from the simple coolness factor, but I wasn’t about to find out. Extensive questions to multiple coworkers (who I knew wouldn’t spoil the secret, sorry June) led me to decide I should do it somewhere in Australia, somewhere remote, and somewhere without a large crowd.

This left way too many opportunities, and I still had no set idea. I carried the ring around in my underwear bag in my backpack, trying not to cringe too hard when Sarah would ask to grab something from my bag. When the last-minute helicopter ride option appeared, I knew I had to take it. I’m pretty sure I was sweating in the air-conditioned room trying to sneak a ring in my shorts pocket while Sarah refused to be anywhere else in the condo. The ring securely in my pocket, we arrived at the tour desk via golf cart. Luckily Sarah needed to use the washroom prior to our flight which gave me the option to let the pilot know my plan. He gave me the advice of waiting a minute so he could shut down the helicopter and then take photos. This led to the ideal proposal, one I’ll never forget, yet somehow only faintly remember.