In the beginning, we didn’t know each other. In fact, it took over a year of being in Athens for our paths to cross for the first time, albeit very momentarily. It was so fast, Erica actually thought Avery was traveling with a group from Australia to visit mutual friends in the fall of 2009. It was only months afterwards when she realized that he was in fact, American and we shared many mutual friends that would become heavy influences not only on our relationship but lives as a whole. Fast-forward one year later to the spring of 2010, and naturally, one of our closest mutual friends to date re-introduced us for last time. The only thing left to glue us together for good was a relaxing, care free, Athens summer that most of us have all come to know and love. The lack of responsibility and abundance of time allowed for us to get to know each other and grow closely enough that we knew we had something special going forward. After two blissful and formative years, Erica and Avery faced their first real test in their relationship: distance. It should come as a surprise to no one that Erica managed her time in Athens much more responsibly than Avery, and was employed shortly after finishing her degree on time in May of 2012. Her new job with Color Wheel in Decatur required her to move from Athens. This would be the first time Erica and Avery lived in different cities since they had met. In the meantime, Avery worked on finishing his degree while managing everyone’s favorite black hole, Sandbar.

Avery and Erica were able to pass their first of many tests of distance, much in part due the commitment from each to drive and see one another as much as possible. Despite I-85 and highway 316’s best efforts, Erica and Avery’s relationship continued to flourish. It was also around this time that they began to discover their love for traveling together. Whether it be vacations to destinations such as Puerto Rico and Montana or weekend getaways in the southern Appalachian Mountains, these trips only drew them closer together, despite their distance from one another on a weekly basis. After two years at Color Wheel, Erica was offered a full-time teaching position at West Hall High School, in which she accepted and promptly moved back to Athens. When Erica moved back to Athens, Avery was still finishing his last year of school. Although their schedules were essentially opposite, they continued to find time to see each other and their friends. Dinner parties and other forms of hosting became the norm, and Avery and Erica’s experiences preparing for these gatherings made them realize how much they enjoyed preparing home cooked meals together. Erica’s second stint in Athens would be short lived, as she moved back to Gainesville to be closer to work. Because of the move, dinner dates would become a staple in their relationship for years to come.

When Avery finally finished his degree in the Spring of 2015, Erica and Avery both knew hard decisions were on the horizon. Erica’s teaching career was beginning to flourish, but moving out of the only state they had ever known for the beginning of Avery’s career was a real possibility. However, Avery was offered a full-time management position to remain at Sandbar and elected to stay in Athens for one more year. The extended paid vacation associated with the new position afforded Erica and Avery the opportunity to travel extensively during between 2015 and 2016. They were able to travel to both Patagonia and Alaska and essentially see the north and south poles within the same calendar year. Shortly after returning from Alaska, Avery finally realized the service industry was far away from his career goals, so he decided to retire from Sandbar and enroll in graduate school at the University of Georgia. Although the new opportunity of attending graduate school was exciting, it also meant Erica and Avery would continue to live in two different cities. 2017 would prove to be very similar to 2015 and 2016 because even as Erica and Avery continued to spend time apart, their love for each other and sharing experiences continued to grow. Despite hectic job and class schedules, they continued to find time to spend time with each other and travel. In the summer of 2017, they embarked on their boldest travel destination to date: Madagascar. The weeks spent in Madagascar were as intense as they were breathtaking, but Erica and Avery knew if they could endure the daily logistical struggle experienced there and still genuinely enjoy their trip, then their relationship could make it through any obstacle thrown at them. Shortly after returning from their trip, Avery finished his Master’s degree and for the first time, begin the search for a job within his field of study.

Erica and Avery’s future began to come into focus in 2018. Avery was offered a job with the Len Foote Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park, which just so happened to be in very close proximity with Erica in Gainesville. For the first time in their relationship, they both were working full-time in their fields and lived only a short distance apart. After a somewhat quiet summer in terms of traveling and a plethora of fall weddings, Erica and Avery finally found a weekend in late September to spend quality time in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville had been a go-to weekend getaway for them for years, but this time was much more special. On September 29th, 2018, after nearly eight years of being together, Avery and Erica shared the most beautiful sunrise at the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the entire Appalachian Mountain range. And just as the sun peaked over the horizon, Avery got down on one knee to ask Erica to marry him! They continued to enjoy a weekend of hiking, eating at their favorite restaurants, and staying in a tiny house! Avery and Erica were welcomed home by family and friends at an engagement party. The entire weekend was unforgettable!