Jake and I first “met” in 2017 at a bar we would frequent many times after this night, The Burren. I write “met” because many years leading up to 2017 there had been times when we would be at the same social gatherings because of Keleigh, my best friend from college, being Jake’s best friend from home. We talked over Guinness, and I gave Jake my number. Our first date was at Burton’s near Jake’s hometown a few weeks after that. We continued to date past that point until Jake made it official in March of 2017. Fast forward past two tiny Southie apartments (one of those being 500 sq feet during Covid), bringing home our sweet Ellie girl, and many adventures in between, to 2021. Our friend group was meeting up in my favorite place, Portsmouth NH, for a night out. Jake and I had come in early to walk around and enjoy the day. We had walked to the public gardens where Jake popped the question. I was so overwhelmed with happiness in the moment I did not see my friend Niki and her brother Christos hiding in the bushes documenting the whole event. We enjoyed the rest of the night celebrating with our friend group, who Jake had organized to all be there. The following year we bought a house 30 minutes outside of Portsmouth. We come back often. We can’t wait to celebrate with each one of you in July and thank you for your love and support.