Once Upon a Time at a University Dorm Not So Very Far From Here:
Erica was frusterated. Her wireless card just wouldn’t connect to the internet, and she had some very important online shopping to do. Exasperated, she shut the laptop lid and stormed off down the hall to ask everyone whether they were having troubles too.

One friend said no she wasn’t having any troubles, but she had a friend who happened to be good at such things. Besides: “He’s pretty cute” she said, shooting her a devilish grin.

So Jesse looked at Erica’s computer. The wireless card thing didn’t quite get figured out, but they did find each other.

Nine months later the couple had their first dog, Plato. Okay so it wasn’t really a decision by the two of them so much as a call from Erica to Jesse on her way home from the shelter saying: “So I kind of adopted a dog. Can he stay at your place? Mine doesn’t allow pets.”

Luckily, he said yes. They had a little family now.

Over the next six years, Jesse and Erica were inseperable. They travelled, met friends, adopted another dog named Tibby, got through school, found jobs, and sent Erica back to law school.

But something was missing. A nagging feeling, like there was something left to do before getting to the “happily ever after” part of this story.

One day, Erica read something online about a diamond dash for a local jewelry store involving a scavenger hunt with loads of other couples for a big fancy engagement ring. She entered them and a couple weeks later got a call. They won a prize for best story! They had a lovely date night and radio interview.

Then the big day came. Hundreds of couples showed up to run after this ring. For hours Jesse and Erica biked as fast as they could all around downtown, answering clue after clue. Then, time was up. Sweaty and exhausted with legs feeling like spaghetti, they listened to the results.

Fourth place, third place, second place… no one had called their names. Then first place was announced!

They had lost.

No matter, it was still an exhilerating experience, they thought. They went back home and took a nap. Jesse still had one more trick up his sleeve. That evening, he tried to get Erica up and moving to go get dinner.

“We’ll take a walk,” he said. “It’s lovely outside.”

Erica whined about being sore, but eventually was persuaded. They leashed up the dogs and walked to the local sculpture garden. Then they went inside one of the sculptures.

“What’s this in the light?” Jesse said. Of course Erica looked directly into the light and was blinded. Then she noticed he was on one knee, holding something.

Anyway, long story short…

Jesse and Erica are getting married, July 17 2010

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