As everyone should know by now, Callie and Misha met in high school in Portland, Oregon. Callie's remembers first noticing Misha during their lunch hour their Freshman year. As in Cleveland High fashion, Callie and her friends were sitting in their usual lunch spot: the area in front of the elevators, when Misha hobbled on by with his crutches. As he waited for the elevator, Callie noted that many of her friends were talking with him and seemed to know him very well. He was cute, blonde hair, blue eyed, and injured: the perfect combo for a high school girl. Soon after, Misha and Callie started a friendship through their mutual friends during their freshman gym class. Misha remembers noticing Callie as the cute athletic girl and recalls being attracted to her ability to challenge and beat him in their gym activities. Their friendship solidified after their semester of bowling. Callie and Misha maintained their friendship, recognizing both their athletic schedules were a barrier to pursuing a relationship. Not long after this decision, Misha and Callie realized they could no longer deny their feelings. Callie remembers texting Misha their sophomore year, prompting him to tell her if he liked someone. Misha averted her question, lying, stating he did not like anyone, then asked the same back. Callie shared that she liked him, to which Misha admitted his lie, and fessed up. Then he texted that he had to go to his grandmother's and left Callie hanging. Classic high school. Although their feelings were shared, Misha and Callie continued their friendship until, following one of Callie's lacrosse games on April 4th, 2010, Misha walked Callie home and asked her to "make it official."

Although neither planned their college selection to be the same, Callie and Misha both wound up at the University of Puget Sound. There, they, individually and together, found a home for 4 years. Misha was into rocks and frisbee. Callie was involved in dance groups and her sorority, played lacrosse, and invested in the study of the mind. Even though the two had their own individual college experiences, they found ways to stay connected and involved. They coordinated study sessions, went on walks and dates, and shared friendships. They enjoyed nights out at the country bar, eating fried food at the local tavern, playing board games with friends, and going to each other's sports games. After graduation, Callie and Misha found a new home in Hood River, Oregon. Misha found work in landscape construction and later wildland firefighting in the summer. In the winter, Misha coached snowboarding up on Mount Hood. Callie worked at one of the local breweries, then moved on to working with children at a children's therapy clinic. She also coached the Junior Varsity Hood River high school girls lacrosse team during this time. Callie and Misha loved living in Hood River, where they made lasting relationships and memories. They went on hikes, played in the water, learned to mountain bike, snowboarded, hit all the bars, breweries, and wineries, and picked blueberries!

Callie proposed to Misha during their last summer in Hood River. With the help of their wonderful friend Nik, Callie began to plot during a 2-week stint while Misha was away for wildland firefighting. Callie made the calls and the texts, informing immediate family members of her decision, to which she had full support. When Misha returned, Callie informed Misha of their date day, sharing their plan to pick blueberries at their favorite picking spot, Montavons, followed by drinks with friends at Grateful Vineyard. Misha, being the anxious human he is, could not accept this as a chance activity. Taking every opportunity he could to poke holes in the day’s plans, Misha would not rest until he had answers. The jig was practically up when Misha craned his neck over Callie’s shoulder to see a text from Nik stating that he was on his way. Misha immediately guessed a proposal, but Callie was luckily able to create reasonable doubt with a false narrative. Misha seemed to accept this, cautiously. Fast forward to picking in the blueberry field, Misha stated his knowledge of the intent to propose. At this point, Callie gave up and requested his participation in seeing the proposal through. There, in the middle of the blueberries, Callie got down on one knee, recited her speech, and asked Misha to marry her. He laughed and said yes. Shortly after, Misha informed Callie that he could see their friend Nik hiding in the bushes with his camera, and that his presence had confirmed his thoughts. It was important to Misha and Callie that they both proposed, expressing equal desire to progress their relationship. Misha proposed just before we left Hood River. Misha waited for the arrival of the ring that the two of them designed together. He decided it was important for him that his proposal was more of a surprise, even though she knew it would happen eventually. Before a planned evening out for dinner along the waterfront, Misha slipped the ring into his pocket as they headed out the door. Before dinner, at golden hour, Misha led Callie on a walk along the Columbia River and out to the tip of the jetty. Right there, among the rocks and surrounded by water, Misha got down on one knee and proposed to Callie. Callie laughed, signifying her awareness of the proposal timing, and said yes.