*ahem*

A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY...

Just kidding :)

Over the years, Stacey and I have had many opportunities to answer the question of how we met. While the response of "Well, we met in high school." is often followed by "Awwww!", it doesn't quite tell the whole story. Today, I'd like to do that.

Stacey and I first met in our senior year in the Fall of 2013, in our Pacific Northwest History class. Neither of us knew anyone else in the class, and we ended up at a group table in the back of the room. Throughout that semester, all of us at that table got to know each other and we all ended up being quite good friends. While Stacey and I had become friends, it never seemed to develop beyond that. However, I would be remiss to not state for the record that it was Stacey who made the first move. Anyone who knows us then or now would know that we are both great enjoyers of history, especially WWII. Being in a history class, one that often left us to our own devices, we often conversed about historical topics that we were interested in. After a particularly impassioned discussion of war films, the following day Stacey brought in a list she had made for me; 26 films, organized war setting and year made. Now, any other person would recognize that as a hint. Unfortunately for both of us, at that time Keegan was a very insecure and very oblivious teenager, so I never took the hint. However some unconscious part of me must have placed value in it, as I kept the list.

I still have it to this day.

After graduation, Stacey and I went our separate paths. Stacey went to attend Marquette in Milwaukee, WI, and I enlisted in the Army. Over the years that followed we both lived our respective lives, with occasional messages between us checking in and generally trying to stay in touch. Things stayed in this way until the fall of 2020.....

I'm not sure what convinced me to try to start a long distance relationship during a global pandemic, but like our politicians I'm gonna blame COVID. In late August Stacey and I reconnected. At first it was just catching up, but very soon old feelings and new came to the surface. After a few weeks of texting, calling, as well as letters and a couple packages, Stacey and I decided to try and meet up in person. Now normal people would do something safe; a concert, maybe a theme park. Something that is only a day or two, and you can easily leave if you aren't having a good time. Instead, we decided to plan a week-long camping/road trip to see Civil War landmarks and memorials. Looking back, it was quite an impulsive thing for us to do, but whether by luck or fate did it turn out to be the best decision either of us has ever made. There were many memorable moments on that trip, (some of which we would like to selfishly keep for ourselves) however the most significant would have to be our night in Nashville. While emotions and feelings had been growing the previous days, it was at this point that they came to a tipping point. After a long day in the car, exploring downtown Nashville, and a very late night with probably one too many drinks, Stacey and I first confessed our feelings to one another.

Over the next 5 months we began the difficult task of maintaining a long distance relationship, as Stacey was still in Wisconsin, and I was currently stationed in North Carolina. We would visit each other when we could, and talk as much as possible. I traveled to her for Friendsgiving and a trip to Door County, and she came down to NC for another camping trip. While this was going on, Stacey was in talks to join the Army Nurse Corps, and there were rumors going around that my unit was prepping for a deployment to Afghanistan. Both of us had a lot on our plates, and eventually this would come to a head. In January 2021, Stacey and I decided to separate, as at that time it felt as though our lives were going in very different directions.

The next year was a very long story for us both, and one for another time. However, if our experiences during that time showed us anything, it's that genuine love is too valuable a thing to lose, and is worth any difficulty. In January of 2022, Stacey and I reconnected and decided to give it another shot.

The last two and half years have been a blur of wonderful adventure. We have faced challenges, experienced loss, lived to the fullest, and grown together as people. We've changed careers, moved in and out of homes, and traveled across our country and others. It's difficult to imagine life without one another, and I think that's when you know it's time.

Stacey & Keegan

June 2025

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Our path has been highly unconventional, but that kind of fits us anyway don't you think? We are very excited for the next step in our journey, and we can't wait to celebrate this next step with you!