We met in September 2002 at an Academic Games - President's Competition practice at Springdale Jr-Sr High School!
Academic Games was one of the many activities in which we participated together. We spent a lot of time together and become good friends over the years!
In 2006, we were spending so much time together - Academic Games practices and tournaments, Track and Field practices and meets, Future Business Leaders of America competitions, Mock Trial competition, and many long musical practices.
Our friendship started to transform into a different form.
Kevin asked Amanda out while practicing starts for track by saying "On your mark, get set, will you go out with me?"
After each of us graduated high school, we headed to college in different places. Our interests, studies, and activities diverged, but we remained friends.
After a few years, we reconnected. Although we had pursued different careers in different cities, we found we still liked talking to each other, laughing with each other, and caring for each other. Some things had changed, but much abided. So we decided to give dating another shot.
On Columbus Day weekend 2019, Amanda and Kevin visited New York.
On Saturday, they ran in the Great Pumpkin Challenge in Saratoga Springs, where Kevin won second place in his age group, visited Martin Van Buren's house in Kinderhook, where they learned about the eighth president, and spent time at an Oktoberfest celebration in Lake George, which was also attended by a man in a chicken suit.
On Sunday, Amanda and Kevin went on a hike in the hills overlooking Lake George. They sat down on a bench, and Kevin pulled out of his pocket a ring that had belonged to his great-grandmother Ethel. He asked Amanda to marry him, and she said yes.