White House: One of our first dates was in D.C., back when I was working at the Pentagon. After dinner at The Hamilton and drinks at the Hay-Adams, we were wandering around the city and ended up in front of the White House—or at least, I thought it was the White House. I said, “This is the White House,” and Terra disagreed: “No, it’s not.” After some debate, I came around and believed what she said was true. I then walked up and asked a Capitol Police officer what building we were standing in front of. The guy looked at me and said, “Son, this is the White House.” I realized two things in this moment: (1) I had lost our first-ever debate, and (2) If she could convince me I was not standing in front of the White House, I was probably going to lose many more. W. Barry Ave: When Terra moved to Chicago, her first apartment was on W. Barry Ave. My last name is Westberry. It wasn’t until we were driving there and Google Maps said the name out loud that we made the connection: her street name was my last name. Coincidence? Probably, but I like to think not. Palm Tree: We both grew up in warm places surrounded by palm trees—me in Florida, Terra in California. It’s a little thing we’ve always bonded over, especially during the bleakest months of the Midwestern winters. For us, the palm tree represents shared roots, sunshine, and family. Terra’s Ring: Terra has this ring that she stole from her mother’s jewelry box (shoutout to Mrs. Nelson), and she never takes it off. She is constantly fidgeting with it. One day, after getting a coffee and walking around the Lincoln Park Zoo, somehow, it disappeared. Total panic ensued—mostly from Terra, but I was definitely stressed too. We hadn’t been dating that long. After retracing our steps for nearly a mile, which was a difficult task that produced several disagreements, we found it just lying on the ground, completely unnoticed by everyone around. Terra thought it was a bad omen. I thought it was a good omen. Only time will tell who is true. The Wolverine: The Wolverine is more than Michigan’s mascot—it’s also the name of the Amtrak route between Ann Arbor and Chicago. I became very familiar with that train while I was in law school. It was a bridge between our two cities, and became a lifeline that kept us connected. I already plan to regale our future children with epic tales of my weekend train journeys to see Terra, as I visited almost every weekend and experienced a good deal of delays and got stranded more than once, though I secretly fear I may have set the bar unreasonably high for any romantic pursuits they undertake. French Cross: The French Cross is a symbol of Saint Mary’s College, which holds a special place in our story. Terra is a proud graduate and also a former student body president of this illustrious institution. Terra’s best friend Katy (a fellow Smick) introduced us and later married my best friend. This makes Saint Mary’s the true matchmaker of our love story. St. Clement Church: St. Clement Church in Lincoln Park is a big part of our story. It’s where we went to Mass together, and it’s where I proposed. Our Sundays at St. Clement have been a constant for us, reminding us of our shared faith and the foundation it’s given our relationship. It was also a pretty great backdrop for a proposal. Lets Go On A Walk: If you know us, you know we’re always up for a long walk. Seven, ten, thirteen miles—you name it, we’ve probably done it. We walk everywhere, usually with a coffee in tow. One Saturday morning, you’ll find us strolling to the farmers market; on a Monday afternoon, we’re sauntering to a hot yoga class; and late at night, we might be trekking three miles home after a night out—even if I am quietly wishing for an Uber. For us, it’s never really about the destination—it’s about the walk itself. We like ambling around. It’s something we love and something we hope to carry into our life together: enjoying the journey.