After running into each other several times while out in Dallas, Zach finally mustered up enough courage to enter Gabrielle's DM on Instagram. Let’s just say Zach's pick-up line of "so how about that Alabama A&M game" after A&M had painfully lost by 22 points did not woo Gabrielle over. Zach being the persistent man that he is, did not give up. With the help of mutual friends, Zach and Gabrielle were officially set up to go on their first date at the local Mi Cocina. Rumor has it that Gabrielle had created a plan with friends to call her after 45 minutes to say that there was an emergency so that she could leave. However, that plan shortly went out the window after they spent four hours of non-stop talking, laughing, eating and drinking. Both Zach and Gabrielle were love struck… and the rest really is history.

Gabrielle spent 2019 applying to attend PA School (Physician Assistant) starting in the fall of 2020. There were plenty of options available to her, but most of them were not close. When it became clear that the prospect of a long-distance relationship was quickly becoming a reality, Zach planned to propose to Gabrielle prior to sending her off to school somewhere across the country. However, the plan on how to do so was still evolving. He always envisioned a proposal in front of her family, something special that would be memorable for everyone present and a landmark moment in their relationship. Though Gabrielle’s family resided in San Antonio at the time, he thought he could set something up that might allow them to travel to be present for the big question. However, through numerous coordination attempts over the course of several weeks, between travel restrictions, family work obligations in healthcare (more in demand than ever during covid), an attempt for Gabrielle to get manicures with Zach’s mom (Gabrielle went with Zach's mom but only got her toes done), and closures and restrictions in the restaurant and hospitality industries, it was becoming increasingly clear that this may not pan out the way he always envisioned, and time was starting to run out, as Gabrielle was to move to Birmingham, AL to begin school in August. He needed to improvise. *Saturday, July 11th, 2020* One of the hottest days of summer and in the peak of the COVID era. Zach put the ring in his pocket and asked Gabrielle to go on a walk around their neighborhood. After some attitude and genuine confusion of why one would want to walk in 104 F weather, Gabrielle agreed. About 2 minutes into the walk, Gabrielle threw in the flag. She told Zach she was turning around and walking home because the heat was too much. Zach panicked and tried his best to convince her to keep walking, but if you know Gabrielle, once her mind is made up, you can’t change it. Zach decided to throw in the towel on this attempt, try to salvage the element of surprise, and continue on the walk for another 15 minutes, acting like nothing had happened. *Sunday, July 12th, 2020* This had to be the day. After many lost weekends due to difficult planning circumstances, he was to begin another week of work Monday morning, which would mean less time together and more difficult to conjure a special proposal. He also couldn’t afford or stand to wait yet another weekend. “Maybe today would be different”, he thought. Attempting the same approach, perhaps expecting a different result despite the common adage – Zach once again asked that afternoon if she wanted to go on a walk with him. A bit discouraged, and somewhat less optimistic on the approach this time, he left the ring in his safe in case she said no. Once again, she had no interest in a “walk”. So Zach, playing it cool as usual, put on his shoes and decided to go the course alone. He used the time on the walk to clear his head, and when he got back, Gabrielle was lounging in the living room watching TV. She asked how the walk was, and Zach replied with the usual “good” before briefly disappearing into the bedroom. He came out with the ring, took a knee in front of Gabrielle, and said, “Will you marry me?”. Gabrielle, who was make-up less, wearing a XXL t-shirt with COVID roots and nails undone (AKA her most natural possible state) looked at Zach in shock… And then without hesitation said “Yes!” with a lot of happy tears. At this point, she realized what the bottle of champagne that Zach picked up at the store a few days prior was sitting in the fridge for. They called/face-timed their families and friends to toast and share the exciting news! The proposal was real, raw, and intimate. However, Gabrielle did make a nail appointment for the following day and refused to post anything until this was done :-) To this day, Zach continues to be generally unsuccessful in getting Gabrielle to go on walks with him.

Zach and Gabrielle survived 27 months of being 700 miles apart. Dallas <----> Birmingham #CatchingFlightsToCatchFeelings Zach patiently waited for Gabrielle to graduate PA School from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, they added two perfect bernedoodle babies to their family, Coco Chanel & Cubby Bear Bush, that go on as many walks with Zach as he can handle.

♡♡♡