Meri and Derek met in 8th grade and "dated" for about a week until her cousin Pat told her she should break up with him....for no real reason, she did. It wasn't until junior year of high school where things got serious between the two of them. They had their first real date at Chili's in Burlington. Quickly fell in love and became best friends. Fast forward 13 years of growing up together and sometimes apart, they always found their way back to one another. One Thursday night after work, Meri and Derek went to the Fells to walk their pup Ollie (as they typically do most nights). Derek went running down to the reservoir with a stick and Ollie running after him. Meri followed, unhappy that Derek was letting Ollie swim that night. But of course Meri quickly had a smile on her face once she start videoing Ollie so happy in the water. Meri distracted by Ollie...Derek is behind her saying, "Meri...hey Meri, this is it" and she turns around to find him on one knee asking her to be his wife. She said YES!