We are getting married!

Katie and Daniel first laid eyes upon one another while at the University of Alberta. Katie liked mid-distance running, Daniel was interested in space - they rarely spoke. After 3 years of ignorant indifference punctuated by brief but tantalizing moments of near acknowlegement, their paths collided violently at the famous Smoky Lake Pumpkin Festival. One thing led to another and before you know it they were accompanying one another to Corn Mazes and movies and roller discos like nothing could ever tear them apart. However several short months later they were torn apart when Daniel signed a lucrative professional sports contract (or maybe it was something related to School) and committed to moving to Kingston Ontario. The romantic game was afoot! ...

Which is to say they proceeded to endure 2 years of difficult long distance courtship before Daniel returned to Katie in Alberta, where he had a surprisingly difficult time convincing her that they should move in together. But they did decide to cohabitate! And were the happy recipients of 2 kittens from Daniel's cousins Karen and Steve.

Their names are Olive, a desperately affectionate calico with a penchant for vanishing, and her brother Blue, a grey tabby and "big healthy boy" as per his veterinarian Dr. Bartier. They have RSVPed "No" to the wedding.

For the next 4 years they fell deeper and deeper in love while Katie muddled her way through a notoriously easy training program of some kind, the details of which are not important, and Daniel worked his hands to the bone to provide for her and the cats. All this led to Daniel, entirely uncoerced, taking Chad and Lisa Anker to a lavish luncheon (which he paid for, which for anyone who knows Chad Anker knows is hard to do), where he requested their "blessing" (not permission) to propose to Katie. They gave the beautiful heirloom diamond ring which had belonged to Katie's maternal Grandmother Diane.

At this time Katie was deep in the trenches fighting COVID at the hospital where we think she works, and in fact contracted COVID while there. She received this news while driving to her 1st vaccination appointment in December 2020. They were quite sad with this news, until Daniel got down on one knee in front of their unstable Christmas tree and asked, "Will you Marry Me?" to which Katie replied, "I do". They then made cocktails and played scrabble, where Katie Bingoed twice and destroyed Daniel. As per COVID regulations, they then isolated separately for 14 days on the different floors of their home, where Daniel had to have sponge baths in the laundry sink.