We met at a Masters Sunday party through mutual friends. My first words to Ricky were, “Let me see your gold.” The chains caught my eye, but his Chicago accent stole my heart. Four days later, I was on a plane to Vegas while he produced NHL Playoff games for the Minnesota Wild. What followed was a summer of flights, movie sets, and adventure. Somewhere in the chaos, we found a love rooted in honesty, friendship, and choosing each other every day. The gold caught my eye, but Ricky caught my heart

For our 6-month anniversary, Ricky flew Megan to New York for her first-ever day in Manhattan. We spent the day slightly tipsy, bar-hopping, running through the streets singing Frank Sinatra, making friends with New Yorkers, and collecting stories along the way. It felt like we had the entire city as our playground. Somewhere between the laughter, adventure, and childlike wonder, we realized our favorite thing isn’t where we are—it’s experiencing life together as best friends.

If we won, we’d invest in our future together. We plan to marry in 2028 and hope to start a family shortly after. As a future mom in my 40s, that journey may include fertility specialists, testing, or IVF. After experiencing pregnancy loss years ago, we know how precious the dream of having a child truly is. This gift would ease the financial burden of building our family and allow us to focus on what matters most: our marriage, our future, and the little life we hope to welcome someday.