Maria was set to go to Bowling Green that weekend for the Gymnastics MAC Championship that was to be hosted by BGSU for the first time in years. But as the weekend approached, Maria & Derek's mutual friends convinced her to come to Massillon first to meet someone they wanted to set her up with. Their reasoning - we both happened to have a vinyl record collection (we still laugh about that being the connecting factor to this day). Derek finished up coaching soccer practice, got some Wendy's and was shoveling down the last of a spicy nugget (keep in mind this was a post college budget) as Maria pulled in with our two mutual friends to the local watering hole - Fox & Hound. Derek stepped out of the car and said "Maria-a-a-a" and that was all it took. We played pool and had a few drinks while getting to know each other that night. And then quickly made plans to see each other again that next weekend. As they say, the rest is history.

Let's start by explaining that Derek wanted to propose on a walk with our dog on multiple occasions that week, but Maria was not feeling up for it - so Derek had to improvise! It was a Monday, Maria was at work. Around 3 pm Derek called with an urgent request. He was out running with our dog, Magnolia, and he felt a pop in his knee. Once Maria knew where he was stranded in the park, she ask her boss if she could leave work for an emergency, and off she went to pick him up. Once at the park (our very favorite park in St. Louis, Tower Grove Park) walking over to where he and the dog were sitting reality slowly kicked in. It dawned on Maria that Derek was not in running clothes... nor running shoes... in fact he didn't even appear to be sweating! It hit Maria all at once what was happening. The plot to get her there makes for a great story, but the true magic was in the simplicity of the proposal. It was just us, our pup, and our favorite park. No frills, no fuss - just our profession of a deep love for one another and a commitment to life together.