It was a hot, midsummer Thursday evening. Steph, whose family recently moved to Mercer County, moved back to New Jersey upon completing her doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. It was there she joined a running group in an effort to meet new people. This small, local group spent their Thursdays first running at Mercer County Park, and second heading to the boathouse, where the Park Commission hosted a happy hour with live music. Brian, not as interested in running, caught wind of the festivities when playing beach volleyball at the park. Having a friend in the running group, Brian hung out with the group and first met Steph. Learning that she was a physical therapist, Brian recounted his infamous story of how he broke his wrist playing basketball...during practice...without the ball...running backwards...in a drill...It was this moment Steph and Brian became friends.

With her doctorate degree and license in tow, Steph found employment at Hamilton Physical Therapy Services, where she worked just one road down from Brian. On Wednesdays, Steph, Brian, and a few friends would spend their lunch breaks together. The two shortly thereafter began going to Planet Fitness together, where Brian strived to impress Steph with how unimpressive he was at lifting weights. It was here where Brian asked Steph to the movies to see the new Harry Potter movie, but she shot him down stating she hadn't watched any of the movies. But just one week later, Steph turned around and asked Brian to her office's holiday party. After the party, Steph and Brian sat down and watched the first of many Harry Potter movies together. Brian, with one last trick up his sleeve, was insistent on driving that night. Brian asked Steph to open the glove compartment, where he had hidden tickets to see the NJ Devils. It was this night, which was also Steph's birthday, where the two began dating.

Summer of 2019 was coming an end and the travel bug bit Steph. She told Brian she was planning to go visit Colorado and he could come, or he could stay. He agreed to go on one condition, that they would go to Yellowstone National Park because it “was in the area”. It was on this trip they discovered their shared love of the outdoors and Brian became the National Park enthusiast we know and love today. As of July 22, 2023 they have visited 31 out of 63 parks…but who’s counting.

The pandemic halted many of the fun things Brian and Steph would have loved to have been doing in the Summer of 2020. However, having so much free time Brian decided it was time to continue and focus on his home projects, specifically the ceilings. This project had begun shortly after Brian and Steph had met in 2018. As the summer was coming to an end and Steph’s lease was ending, she decided that she was willing to move in with Brian under the condition that the ceilings would need to be finished as she did not “want to live in a constant construction zone”. The project was finished however the joke was on her… she continues to live in perpetual home projects.

Brian always had both cats and dogs while growing up. Steph, on the other hand, only knew what life was like with a dog. Further, her experiences with cats were never good. So while both agreed the condo was too small for a dog, Brian conceded that he would not have a cat. Until Steph came home one night in February, that is. While watching TV, Steph turned to Brian and said "we should get a cat". Brian was convinced she caught COVID and replied with "if you are serious, say that again in a week when you've had time to think about it." That week came and went, and Steph reaffirmed her idea. However, she made her rules very clear: only one kitten, and it can't be a scary, black cat full of bad luck. The very next week, Brian and Steph walked into the shelter to look at all the kittens available. Staring them down right as they walked in were two 3-month old black kittens, and brothers at that. Brian took one look at Steph and she knew fate decided for us. Despite her rules, she went home with two kittens, and Brian convinced her that black cats were not bad luck, but actually the best cats to have. Originally named Neo and Taner, Steph and Brian would rename the two Rocky and Smoky, inspired by famous national parks and mountain chains.

Steph made it clear well in advance that she did not want any ring other than her grandmother's that had been passed down. On the Tuesday before, Brian headed to Steph's parents to receive their blessing and the ring. Ring in tow, all Brian had to do was ask the question. But he hummed and hawed over how to do so. Should he wait for a vacation? Should he ask in front of family and friends? Ultimately, what felt right was the exact spot the two had met four and a half years ago.