How We Met
Ben and I met as high school freshman in Albuquerque, NM. Throughout high school, we were able to share many fun times and memories together including singing in Carnegie Hall, summer school biology, and group dates to dances. We bonded over classic rock music and sang out loud constantly. We were extremely supportive of each other- Ben came to all of my dance performances and I attended many of his baseball games.
After we graduated high school, Ben moved away to attend college in Colorado while I stayed in Albuquerque at the University of New Mexico. The support of each other’s passions continued: I was still dancing in college and Ben was a starting pitcher on his college baseball team. We made a point to visit each other, always laughing.
The transition from friends to more than friends was unexpected. Before we knew it, our support for one another became unconditional and full of love. We embarked on a 2 year long distance relationship- one year NM/CO and one year NM/TX after Ben accepted a job in Dallas after graduation. I moved to be with him in July 2015.
how they asked
I had made a plan to get up and organize my closet first thing Saturday morning. That was, until Ben reminded me that we had made plans to hang out with our friends Jake and Lauren that day. “Why can’t we do it at night?” I complained. “Because Lauren has to move into her new apartment. Besides, we already bought tickets for the Arboretum.” Come Saturday morning, I’m still trying to get out of going, but despite my complaining, Ben and I start the drive over to East Dallas and the Dallas Arboretum. Jake and Lauren, Ben’s coworkers, had recently started dating. Besides hanging out together, part of the plan for the morning was to make sure we got a picture of the two of them. I have often complained that Ben and I don’t take enough pictures together, so I at least was excited by the prospect that we could potentially get a good photo as well. As we wandered through the Arboretum, I looked at the beautiful surroundings and thought how this would be a picture perfect place for a proposal, but figured that an engagement to Ben was a long way away.
We stopped at small wooden gazebo so that Jake and Lauren could take a photo. After snapping a few, they wondered if we wanted one as well. The spot we were at reminded me of the mountains in New Mexico due to the pine trees surrounding the gazebo. If I wanted a picture in New Mexico, I would take one there. “No thanks,” I said and hastily walked away. It was starting to warm up (it was June in Dallas after all), and the 4 of us were starting to sweat. We came into an area with a reflecting pool and a gorgeous view of White Rock Lake. We climbed a set of stairs to get a perfect vantage point. It was beautiful. Jake and Lauren went first for the photo op. After, Ben asked, “Do you want to take a picture here?” I absolutely did. Jake and Lauren walked back up the stairs. I handed Jake my phone, and Ben passed his phone off to Lauren. “We don’t need 2 phones,” I complained over my shoulder as I headed back to the photo spot.
I turned around to see Ben coming towards me with a small black box in his hand. He got down on one knee in front of me and asked if I would marry him. Of course I said “YES!” Ben planned everything out perfectly. I was completely surprised and grateful that he had invited along friends to capture and share this special moment with us.
