Connect How did your love story begin?

In 1998, my friend and I decided on a last minute 3-night Easter weekend cruise out of Florida while Mike's Dad invited him on the same cruise to celebrate Mike's Aunt's 60th birthday. It was fate! Assigned dinner tables were next to each other. By the third night, we spent hours talking in the moonlight leaning on the railing of the lido deck. Mike promised to see me again before we left to fly home to Boston and San Diego. Mike kept his promise!

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

We took an epic camping trip in a classic Mini Cooper. One night we had a bear in our campsite with only a tiny car or tent to hide in, went off-roading and got stuck up on a rock, drove thru a Pass when the road closed due to snow in July! and had to wait for a snow plow to follow it down and out. The trip ended in Vegas in 106 degree weather and no AC, where Mike surprised me and we got married in a drive thru in our little classic car. Best trip ever!

What would you do with $20,000?

We would start by giving half of it to cancer research since medical advances have definitely given me 16 years of survivorship. And we would take a family trip with our son who was 1 when I was diagnosed and is now amazingly heading off to college soon. We cherish every day we have together as a family and find that memories are our most treasured possession so would love to take a break from work and school and make a new amazing memory!