Let me re-phrase, we were best friends in high school. Here is our story from my (Sam’s) perspective:

We met in the fall of our sophomore year of high school in Edgewater, Maryland, in the cafeteria of South River HS. Having only enrolled at SRHS the semester before, I knew of Teague, but had never personally met her. Not only was she the most beautiful person in the school, but she was a part of the cool-fun-athletic group that hung out with the varsity football players. We were not in the same league.

I played rec-league basketball with Nick Pappas, who quickly introduced me to other future SR Lacrosse studs like Joey Rotolone and Cody Tidwell. We became fast friends, and it was through these friendships that I would ultimately be introduced to the prettiest and most fun girl in school.

Our friendship blossomed. We were constantly hanging out on the weekends, going to concerts together, pre-gaming high school football games, taking trips to Ocean City, and attending parties at friends’ houses.

Teague went off to college at the University of South Carolina, while I went to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. I would come down and visit from time to time, usually staying with my good friends Shane Morris and Spencer Wilson, but we would always hang out together while in Columbia. I would tell her stories of my college escapades while hearing about hers. We were best friends!

Our high school group of friends had a tradition that every summer we would rent a house in Dewey Beach and party outrageously. Teague was always the one who booked the house, paid the security deposit, and reminded all of us that her name was on the lease and to not break anything!

We continued to stay close over the years and though we each had significant others in our lives, I knew that Teague was my soulmate.

After graduating from college and bouncing around the East Coast for a few years, I eventually found myself living and working in San Diego. Teague had just broken up with her boyfriend and had come out to visit some family friends, amazingly in San Diego! We reconnected, picking up our friendship right where we had left it, without skipping a beat. I invited Teague to join my family and me down in La Ventana for New Years Eve that year, and she was more than happy to accept!

She arrived in town the day after Christmas in 2018, and I was SO excited to see her. I couldn't wait to show her around the town that means so much to me and was such a major part of my childhood. It was here in La Ventana that we shared our first kiss.

I formally asked Teague to be my girlfriend on her birthday, Feb 1, of 2018, surrounded by our group of friends in a swanky AirBnb in Philly. There is even a video taken by our dear friend Nicole of that special moment!

I fell deeper in love with my best friend. We bonded over our past shared experiences, our love for the ocean, watersports, late night Uber eats, slow dances in the kitchen, and our shared love of family and friends.

We began our long-distance relationship with Teague still living in Philadelphia and me in San Diego. During that year, we would go back and forth deciding which of us would take the 3,000 mile cross-country flight to see each other. I hated flying, but the miles in the air were worth every moment I'd get to spend with Teague in person.

As COVID-19 tightened its grip on the US at the beginning of March 2020, Teague and I decided that she should come out to San Diego for a prolonged stay in California, so that we could face the pandemic together.

Though we are keenly aware how difficult the early pandemic was for many people, we were blessed with an unbelievable experience quarantining together at my house in Pacific Beach. We were surfing, isolating on the beach together, cooking great meals, playing cards, watching Game of Thrones, taking hikes, tie-dying shirts with Matsko and KJ, and having day parties in the backyard with our San Diego friend group.

Eventually the time came for us to get our own place just down the street from our beloved Wilbur St house. It was in this new apartment by the beach that I started seriously shopping for engagement rings and putting together a plan. I began reaching out to some of Teague's best friends – thanks Kirsten, Beth, and Jacquie – for stylistic suggestions for the ring. I slowly gathered enough feedback to make a decision on the perfect engagement ring. The plan was beginning to take shape.

I invited some of our best friends in the world to come out to Hood River, Oregon to surprise Teague after I proposed. My sister Kari and my mom were absolutely essential to the challenging logistics of getting 15 people across the country and into the small town, yet hidden from view. The plan was in motion!

I asked Teague to marry me on my 29th birthday, July 3rd of 2021- surrounded by our best friends in the world in my parents' house in Oregon. Fortunately for me she said yes! Now I know what people feel like when they win the lottery.

It made sense for us to go back to where it all started - La Ventana - for our wedding. We are looking forward to celebrating our marriage with all of you!