Connect How did your love story begin?

We met as environmental interns in a small town in Louisiana during Mardi Gras. We lived in a converted seminary and worked together for three months leading bayou tours and working with kids. Our first impressions of each other were not great, but over that period we grew fonder. At the end of that internship, Jesse headed to Wyoming while I went to D.C. He could only call once or twice a month due to a lack of coverage so we exchanged letters every week until we were able to meet again.

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

In 2021 we lived in a camper in TX during the massive winter storm. We had no power, no heat, and were literally frozen inside of our camper. Our cats were not happy. Luckily we love to camp and backpack and had a jet-boil for hot water and cooking along with sleeping bags and blankets. We spent that week talking, working on puzzles, and chipping away at the door while using the window to crawl in and out of the camper. There was no internet or television; it was just us and that is invaluable.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would love to take my husband, his family, and my parents on a trip to Italy. Both my mother and mother-in-law are first generation Italians whose father's left Italy for the U.S.A. I want them to see where their families are from and experience that cultural connection you can only have while traveling. Not only would it be an amazing gift to provide to my family, it would be an unforgettable experience and chance to bond. My husband would probably say "let's just put it into savings."