As many of you know, Eli and I grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts together. Although it was a relatively small town, we didn't meet each other until our Junior year of high school in Chemistry class (yes, we find it just as cheesy and cringy as you do!). We met the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2007 and bonded over our love of Thanksgiving food, although we continue to argue over which dish is the best part. Caoimhe remains an avid potato lover while Eli appreciates the finer things in life (stuffing). Flash forward to 2014: Eli took Caoimhe out to lunch after returning from Nicaragua for their first real date. The rest, as they say, is history.
On Friday, October 19th, 2018, Caoimhe came home to a music stand in the driveway. After silently cursing Eli for leaving his things around, causing her to park in a very inconvenient location (and having to rush home meant not picking up a mega millions ticket - think of what could have been), she walked up to find a walkman (time machine) and a letter instructing her to follow the candles throughout the house to reminisce on the 11 years they've known each other. Eli wrote a letter for each year they've known each other, accompanied by a song to bring Caoimhe back to that year. In the end, she walked out to find hand painted signs with the lyrics of their special Stevie Wonder song written on them and Eli, grinning ear to ear, down on one knee. The tears of joy started in "2007" by the front door and didn't let up until she said "yes, yes, of course, yes" in the backyard.