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The meet cute(s)

It was a Rager unlike any other in Emily, MN, a beautiful June weekend set aside for friends to come together and celebrate with each other.  This particular Rager featured a special new guest, freshly returned from her stint in Texas, Alyssa was brought along by her friend Esther to get reacquainted with the north amongst friends and the beauty of the Northwoods, on the channel between Lakes Mary and Emily. Also in attendance was a stalwart member of the regular Rager crew, John, who was there to relax and help attend to the needs of the guests that weekend, especially when it came to the campfire and the food.

As the weekend went on, it was clear that the two had noticed one another. Subtle flirtation gave each of them a cue that there could be something there. Less subtle hints came along with Esther taking John aside at one point to state bluntly "Alyssa thinks you're cute, and if you're interested, she is definitely interested." This was enough to set the wheels in motion. They spent hours on the porch chatting, giggling, and sizing each other up. At one point, they said the same thing aloud at the same time, and Alyssa jinxed John. It turns out John takes a jinx very seriously, and he insisted that she find out his full name and say it out loud before he would be allowed to speak again. Their playful antics left a clear impression on one another. 

After that weekend, the two would gently exist within each others' orbit for the rest of the summer. Usually spending time together in larger social settings, they continued to get to know each other. John was performing at the Theatre in the Round during Minneapolis's Fringe Festival which just so happened to be downstairs from Alyssa's apartment. During the rehearsals and run of the show, John would linger for a while after a performance or rehearsal and peek up at Alyssa's window, checking for signs of life in case Alyssa was upstairs and might be compelled to come downstairs for a drink at the cafe on the corner or a quick chat by the stage door. Little did he know, Alyssa would look down from her window, eager to see if John's bike was parked in the alley between the theater and her building. She would hope for the opportunity to engineer a cute "oh, what are you doing here?" moment, knowing full well that he was just next door. 

It was this eagerness to see each other again that would bring them closer together. 

The Proposal

Details are hazy...

It seems like the question was asked many times in many ways. 

Alyssa was away on a trip to Germany with some friends, and John was left to craft and plan. 

It was arranged that John would pick Alyssa up at the airport upon her return, so John devised a plan to create a backdrop with many trinkets and photos of the two of them taken over the years. John invited several friends over to witness and take part in the celebration of Alyssa's return and to witness John officially posing the question. With the scene set and the friends waiting at the house, John made his way to the airport, tasty coffee treat in hand for his jet-lagged beloved, eager to get Alyssa home so that he could surprise her with the biggest question he's ever asked in his life. 

There she was, waiting on the curb, smiley and sleepy, happy to be home. John helped her load the bags in the car and gave her a smooch. As Alyssa closed the door to the car, she turned to John and said, "You're going to propose when we get home, aren't you?" 

Dumbstruck, John replies "What? No..."

"I got the notifications from the doorbell camera. Why else would so many of our friends be hanging out on our patio while you're coming to get me?"

Cover. Blown. 

This did not temper the feeling, both of them knew, and the quiet acknowledgement of their love and care for one another set in. They held hands as Alyssa recounted tales of her trip. Once they arrived at home, they walked in the house to the sound of their song "Read My Mind" softly playing from the living room. They walked into the sight of dear friends with joy in their eyes, the kitties excited their human was home, and without delay, John got down on one knee and simply said "Alyssa, will you marry me?" and with a beautiful smile on her face she said "Yes!"