During Covid, we found each other on Hinge and messaged for a month before finally deciding to meet at a quirky art gallery. While trying to find the correct parking area, I somehow wedged my car down a narrow alley I had to get a sweet young valet to help me back out of, and of course, unbeknownst to me, Ben saw the whole thing unfold. I’m still surprised he didn’t run away without meeting me! Thankfully, he stuck around, and we began our story with wild works of art and 6 feet of distance!

We decided we wanted an unusual location for our wedding—somewhere neither of us had been! I have taught art history all over the world, and Ben worked on a cruise ship for over a year, but neither of us had ever been to Costa Rica! So, after a rainstorm, we hiked down 500 slippery wooden steps to be wed at the base of the spectacular La Fortuna waterfall, although we almost lost our officiant to the slippery stairs and fragile railing on the way down!

We live in a very old lake house that we are trying to restore piecemeal by piece. Its biggest problem is an unusable hall bathroom. I have to wake at 4:23am every morning to drive 1.5hrs to work all day with autistic children. Ben doesn’t have to wake up for another 3hrs after I leave! With $20K, we could restore the hall bath to working order so that I am not waking my husband up many hours too early every day! I believe a peaceful bathroom situation is key to a peaceful marriage!