Mutual Weirdness Forever

Trena: Mike and I first briefly met at Mickey's Irish Pub in Ames in August of 2016. I was in town for a Bachelorette party which happened to be Superhero themed. As the evening drew late, the girls went back to the hotel, and I stayed at the Pub longer to meet with some local friends. At this point, I should probably mention I was sitting alone at the table wearing a full Wonder Woman outfit. Mike's room mate introduced us, then Mike said hello, gave a weird look, and darted. Mike: When I first met Trena a buddy of mine asked me if I wanted to go to Welch to hang out with one of his friends. He warned me that she was a little bit weird and likes to dress up as a Super Hero and randomly go out to the bar. I thought he was lying, but when I went to the bar sure enough there was a girl there in a Wonder Woman costume. I thought she was weird, and I wanted nothing to do with that so I said hi and bye. A year later, after a LONG day of tailgating, I find that same girl came over to sit on my lap while I was sleeping on the couch and asked me to take a photo of her with one of her close friends. The photo never got taken. But the bond between us was an immediate connection. Trena: Everyone took an Uber to go out, and since not everyone could fit, Mike and I stayed back to catch the next car. We danced on the porch, laughed, and were inseparable. Once we left, we arrived at Blue Owl to do karaoke (my favorite activity mixed with a little liquid courage!) There I sang one of my favorite songs, Somebody to Love by Queen. Mike: Trena started to sing Queen Somebody to Love, with the energy equal to 1,000 suns! She gained the attention of every single person in that bar that night. While everyone was watching at the end of the song, she motioned me over on to the dance floor where we shared a kiss that started the rest of our lives. Trena: After that night, we commuted the 3 hour drive from Ames to Rochester ever weekend for a year. The rest is history :) <3

Mike and Trena's engagement took place on the last warm day of fall on November 1st at White Water State Park: part of the bluff lands of Southeast Minnesota. After asking to leave work early for the day, and Trena agreeing to a suspicious hiking trip, the two enjoyed each other's company while taking in the changing fall leaves. At the top of "Inspiration Point" Mike popped the question, a breathtaking moment that the two will never forget. The couple continues to visit White Water, famous for their trout fishing and landscapes. The state park turned 100 years old in 2019