Who are these crazy kids, anyway?

One is a twin. One can play the euphonium. One has 20/20 vision. One was born in Las Vegas. One has naturally curly hair. Both have sisters. Both love cats.

Alyssa and Joel's studies each brought them to The Evergreen State College. Joel graduated in June of 1999 and Alyssa enrolled mere months later.

Luckily for both of them, Joel had taken a chance and applied for a position in the Scene Shop of TESC's theater department. He had worked there as a student and rather liked the place.

After a year of general studies, Alyssa found a home in the theater department. Attracted as much to the gentleman who taught her stage carpentry as to the work itself, she quickly began working more than the required 10 hours a week in the Scene Shop. He noticed.

A mutual friend and co-worker who lived in a mansion-like house provided many social situations for them to hang out, talk and grow fond of each other. One night, Joel was putting a Dire Straits record on to play and Alyssa thought that was just perfect. So they kissed.

The next four years were full of laughing, talking, cooking, eating, differing opinions, drives down to the coast, boxing parties, theater, lots of moving (for Alyssa), a job change (for Joel), meeting the folks, meeting the sisters, meeting the cats, a little camping, some tiny hikes, costumes, movie nights, trips to Buffalo, Portland, LA, Las Vegas, NYC, Niantic and a few of the San Juan Islands.

As they were walking down the street in August 2005, Joel asked Alyssa if she would stop for a moment so he could ask her something. Her spidey-senses told her something was up, so she stubbornly refused and kept walking.
Then he took a ring out of his pocket.
She stopped.

Joel told Alyssa that he loved her very much. Then he asked if she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

She said she'd think about it.

Later that night, after cake, ice cream and a long walk together under the moon, she said yes, and they made a quick run to the store for some celebratory champagne.