How We Met
Zan and I attended the same private college in Lakeland, Florida. While the school was small and we were only two years apart, we knew of each other, but can’t recall a time we ever met. Fast forward to January of 2016, we were both living and working in Tallahassee, Florida, along with a handful of other Florida Southern College alumnae. At some point, one of our mutual friends organized a bar crawl. I and three guys were the only ones to show. Zan was one of them. We spent the night people watching, drinking and staying up talking until the early hours of the morning. Even then, Zan was a traveling musician on the weekends so, we didn’t cross paths again until St. Patrick’s Day when I saw his band set up outside of a bar that I was at. We hung out that night and have been ever since. We officially became a couple in May of 2016 and first said “I love you” to each other in my childhood bedroom on August 6, 2016. In 2017, we made a bold, but certain move to Nashville because we wanted to live in a big, artist-centric city. Zan pursued his dream and is a full-time touring bassist. I too am living out my dream as a writer and editor.
How They Asked
On August 6, 2016, Zan told me he loved me. On August 6, 2019, he promised to love me forever. It was a Tuesday and I had a final exam that night. I knew Zan’s sister Malena was flying in that night. She told me that the trip was a gift from her husband, to have a few days in Nashville without her two young sons. After my exam, I went to the airport and picked her up. We then headed to Nudie’s Honky Tonk on Broadway because that is where Zan plays every weeknight. None of this was out of the norm because Nashville is a party any night of the week, I was celebrating being finished with exams and Malena was a free mom for the night. Malena was talking to me (distracting me) about books when the lead singer announced that Zan would be singing a song that was a special request.
This was a little questionable because the bass player doesn’t always get special requests, but Zan does sing and Malena was there; anything was possible. Then Zan began singing “Amazed” by Lonestar. It was then that I knew this wouldn’t be just another night, but that the song was for me. As he got to the chorus, he stopped singing, but the crowd kept singing. The singing stopped when he reached for my hand, pulled me on stage and got down on one knee. The crowd’s singing turned to screaming with excitement.
I still get goosebumps and teary-eyed thinking about that. There were so many emotions occurring and so many reactions from the crowded bar, but luckily he had hired a photographer to capture it all. The photos capture just how happy, surprised and emotional the moment was. We are so very grateful for the unwavering love we have shared and now vow to continue for always. Forever developing, forever.
