We met through our Stryker Sales Training Class--Sarah teaching the class, and John asserting himself as the new guy from Philly. Over the two years while Sarah was in San Francisco working in Marketing for Stryker and John was in Philadelphia as a Stryker Sales Rep, the two became close friends. They talked frequently and consistently checked in on each other's weekend plans, and social happenings. When Sarah moved to Chicago to pursue a Sales position in February of 2016, John coincidentally had his "best friend's Dad's 60th birthday party in Chicago" that same weekend. As Sarah's parents took off after moving her in on Friday, John's plane was quickly landing that same day. Sarah and John made loose plans to hang out that evening since the "birthday party" wasn't until the following day, and Sarah didn't know many people in Chicago. After that weekend, the rest was history. It wasn't until approximately 2 months later, that Sarah was informed that there had never actually been a 60th birthday party in Chicago that first weekend in February. The plans John had made were completely fabricated as an excuse to see Sarah. The text message thread for the 60th birthday: fake. The flight out for his friend's dad birthday: completely made up as well (sorry Mr. V!). Without Sarah knowing it, John had arrived in Chicago that weekend with zero plans or arrangements, other than to see where things may go. We feel so incredibly lucky that our paths crossed from opposite sides of the country, and especially grateful that John took a chance on that flight to Chicago. Thank you everyone for making the trip to celebrate the start of our life together!