The story of how we met is one of our favorite stories to tell whenever we are introduced to someone new. The background leading up to when we first got together is filled with coincidences and connections that span several years before we were first introduced. And even after that first meeting, another several years would go by before our first date. We both grew up in the same area of Fort Worth, Texas, which meant we also attended all the same schools. Our three-year age gap prevented us from ever really knowing each other while we were in elementary, middle, and high school. So, while we were both in high school at the same time (Spenser as a senior and Reagan as a freshman), our paths never crossed. While I never had the pleasure of knowing Reagan growing up, my younger brother, Sam, did, in fact, become friends with Reagan beginning in elementary school. You may be shocked to know that I am not the first Myers that Reagan has dated in her life. That illustrious honor belongs to Sam Myers, who became Reagan’s very first boyfriend at the age of 10 in the fifth grade. Fortunately for me, this relationship could not survive the turmoil that so frequently entangles the emotions of an elementary school relationship, and it came to a natural conclusion without either party ever acknowledging what happened. Despite the split between Sam and Reagan, they were able to be mature children about the whole ordeal, and maintained a strong friendship throughout their middle and high school years. Fast forward several years and we arrive in 2013. I had graduated from undergrad in 2011 and found myself back in Fort Worth during a time in which I was searching for my next steps in life. During these few years, I worked as a bartender, and it was at this time that Reagan and I first met. While out in Fort Worth one night, we found ourselves co-mingling with a few shared friends. I remember chatting with Reagan that night, and learned about her recent trip abroad as part of her undergrad program in San Sebastían, Spain. My conversation with her left a vivid impression on me, and I remember feeling that she was someone I would want to keep in my life as a friend. Throughout the next several months, we found ourselves hanging out in the same circle of friends on a few different occasions. While it wasn’t romantic (yet), it was clear that we both thought of each other as someone worth maintaining a connection with. Shortly after this time, we both left Fort Worth to pursue graduate studies. I went to Ithaca, New York, while she moved to Houston.

Three years later, in 2017, a post-graduate job opportunity brought me to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Reagan was in her last semester of graduate school in Houston, but despite being 1,200 miles apart, we again found ourselves brought closer together by another coincidental connection. Reagan’s childhood best friend, Sarah, lives in Chicago, which happens to be only 90 miles from Milwaukee. Reagan and I just so happened to be texting back and forth at the time, and I learned that she was planning on making a trip to Chicago to visit Sarah. And HERE was my opportunity! A quick train ride from Milwaukee, I offered to make the short trip down to Chicago and take Reagan out on a date her first night in town. Graciously, Sarah allowed me to have this time with Reagan during her first night in Chicago, even though me crashing their party was not in the original plans (thanks Sarah!!). I picked up Reagan from Sarah’s place, and we walked to a casual bar down the street, where we had great cocktails, and even better conversation. Our prior history, along with the shared memories of our hometown and people we knew, allowed us to connect on a deeper level at an accelerated pace. So much so, that while we were still on our first date, we each bought plane tickets to visit each other the next month (!). While this could be considered a risky move for someone to commit to on a first date, I knew she was someone special, and had no doubts that this would end up being the first of many dates to come. So, in the next month, we made a trip to Austin together, she then came to Milwaukee to visit me for a weekend, and I went to Houston for a weekend. I was quickly in love. Shortly after that, she graduated from her grad program in Houston, and made the decision to check off an item on her bucket list and move to Chicago. I like to think I was a major influence on that decision, but either way, it worked out well for me, as the 1,200 miles of distance between us was suddenly condensed to a much more manageable 90 miles. From there, our relationship continued to grow and thrive. We traded off weekends in each other’s cities, and got to experience the best that Milwaukee and Chicago have to offer together as a couple. After Milwaukee, my career took me to the other side of Lake Michigan, where I landed in Kalamazoo (a real place). While the distance between us expanded from the 90 miles we had grown accustomed to, we continued to see each other every weekend, and built upon our shared experiences of the Midwest. After almost two years of maintaining our relationship from a distance in the Midwest, we decided it was time for both of us to come back home to Texas and start our lives together in the same place for once. We moved to Austin in June of 2019 and have been here ever since. The friends we have made throughout the journey of our relationship, and the experiences we have had together have all played a significant part in who we are today. Thank you for being a part of our story, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you. Love, Reagan and Spenser