Alex and I met a year before we really knew each other. During our senior years of undergrad we were both in the process of applying for PT schools, myself from ND and Alex from IA. Chance just so had it that we would interview at DMU on the same day in October 2015. Fast forward almost an entire year and we began grad school in the same PT class. Alex made a bold first impression by wearing khaki shorts the 2nd day of orientation when the remainder of the 500+ students were dressed in professional attire and that's when I remembered him from the year before. As we began our regular classes throughout Fall 2016 we slowly struck up a friendship; Alex would also like to add that I was "anti-social" and didn't attend enough class events to really get to know. During the spring semester we had a few more lab classes together and found we had more in common than we realized, however he did exaggerate some of these interests in an effort to talk to me more. We were nearing the end of the spring 2017 term and needed to select where we wanted to go for our 2nd clinical rotation. I sent out a snap message to a few people from the class asking if anyone would be interested in traveling to WA. To my surprise Alex was sincere in his interest to travel out west, so we set into motion the planning. Two weeks passed and we were anxiously awaiting to see if we were paired with the clinicals in WA. We had also started a new trend of going to Gray's lake for runs on Saturdays with the goal to run the 2 mile loop under 14 minutes (more to this story but Alex and my version's differ and I'll let him try to convince you his version is real). It was after one of these morning runs that we found out we both were going to WA! It also happened to be the last day of the semester and our class was having a grill out to celebrate surviving another term. We have a few friends to thank that afternoon who gave us each the push we needed to address the feelings we were "hiding" about each other.

The proposal was a well thought out, perfectly planned evening to ask Syd to be my wife. I had it all mapped out and it was going to work flawlessly. We would be dressed nicely for a fancy "celebratory dinner" for graduating DMU. Her and Madi Danielson would go get their nails done "for the ceremony" and would be painted and perfect, ready for the picture barrage. I had her camera charged and a team of "photographers" (Jake Gerlod, Madi and Ryan Danielson, & Pat Chizek) to capture it all. Just at dusk we would go on a nostalgic walk at our spot, Grey's Lake, to look back on our last two love-filled years. With the DSM skyline lit up I would get down on a knee and ask Sydney spend forever with me. I had spent hours planning and was so excited to see it all play out. OF COURSE my luck didn't allow any of that. First, Grey's Lake closed due to flooding repair. My plan B at another park with an equally great DSM backdrop, closed for reconstruction. Plans C-D both outside in the DSM area with little traffic and great views just so the weather could change days before to torrential downpour the ENTIRE DAY. Some may ask the valid question, why not wait a day? We were in the middle of graduation week with plans every night, our families headed into town knowing we would be engaged by the time of their arrival, and to be honest, I simply couldn't wait. The day of starts with plans falling apart, chaos mounting, and my hopes fading. Ryan and Madi generously lent me their kitchen. While I was at an interview, the "photographers" went and got roses, rose pedals, and tea lights to set up there on the kitchen table. As Syd got ready for the night, I waited in the dim candle lit kitchen. I waited, and waited. Sydney's 5 min obviously turned into 15. She finally peaked around the corner, speechless as I got down on a knee to ask her. Sure she would cry and say yes, I cried while she said yes and laughed at me, tearless, and a ring 2 sizes too small squeezed onto her finger.