A ringer for the American Enterprise Institute’s sports teams, Zane rocked up to West Potomac Park Field #2 expecting business as usual: strike out unceremoniously in slow pitch softball before trying to redeem his 0.125 batting average in the outfield. This time, Zane arrived late and so he jumped right in without looking around at who had showed up. With teammate Jake Easter on deck and warming up, Zane noticed a stray speck in his moustache and did what any friend would—he immediately walked over and gently removed the potential distraction. As Zane turned around, an unfamiliar voice piped up, quite dryly, “Well that was a tender moment!” “And had it been food, I would’ve picked it out with my teeth” Zane immediately fired back turning towards the stranger. Struggling to place her, Zane spoke without thinking again (those who know him are well-aware of this trait), “You look familiar, do you send emails?” Another zinger pickup line. As it turned out, she did, but after exchanging a few words, Zane walked away wondering if the pretty girl named Abby would ever speak to him again following such an awkward interaction… …As luck would have it, even if Abby wanted to avoid Zane, she couldn’t. A few weeks after meeting in the dugout, Zane and his roommates moved to Capitol Hill just one block away. Zane then spent the rest of the summer seeing Abby at various housewarmings and summer gatherings until he’d developed enough goodwill to help celebrate her birthday. After spending the day ridiculing her at her office and neglecting his responsibilities, Zane and the birthday girl arrived back on their neighborhood block. Sensing Abby may have been both in a good mood from the festivities and too tired to put up much of a defense, Zane asked her out. And to his surprise, she obliged. After spending the next 18 months getting to know each other, Zane arranged for Abby to be dropped off in the rain by the Jefferson Memorial where Zane was waiting with an umbrella. Not wanting her to ask the obvious question of why are we here in the rain, Zane acted swiftly: “This is the part where I talk, and you listen” Zane romantically assured her. After walking and talking for a few minutes, the two crossed the tidal basin bridge to arrive back at West Potomac Park Field #2 where Zane finally had the chance to redeem his earlier ineptitude when the two first met. This time he knew what he was going to say and even had an “x” marked on the ground to help guide him. After getting down on one knee, Zane checked to make sure Abby wasn’t crossing her fingers and awaited a response. To Zane’s great relief (and likely her family’s bewilderment), Abby said yes. And that’s more or less how it happened. So, thanks for being a part of each of our journeys and we look forward to celebrating with you all September 8!