Once upon a time,
a long, long, LONG time ago
Sophia and George met in 2005, as new sophomores at the Taft School.
It was on the jig patio by the pond, during their last few minutes of social hour before study hall, when George worked up the courage to offer to walk Sophia back to her dorm (a school tradition, IYKYK). Sophia said yes, and he walked her back three times that week.
By the third walk back, as with tradition, it was time to define the relationship. While she knew she liked him (still, it was only the first week of school), Sophia hesitantly asked if they could get to know one another as friends first. George was heartbroken and said it was unlikely he could ever ‘just be friends’ with her but Sophia promised that she would find one way or another to stay close. The next day, George inevitably realized his fate when they were seated next to each other in their 5 person science class.
They spent the next two years timidly flirting and making eyes at each other - - but, just as friends, of course.
It was once again the first week of school, their senior year, both were newly single and their friends asking if they were ever going to give it another shot at being more than just friends.
Sophia confirmed that if given the opportunity again she would say yes. George was also very interested, but he was still scarred from his first attempts and needed some time to make sure he’d have success his second time around. Later that month, and tired of waiting, Sophia decided to take matters into her own hands. She decided to give George an opportunity at the first off-campus party of the year.
While chatting on the patio, Sophia, flirtatiously feigning disgust with George’s fashion choices (which was not that hard to do back then…), grabbed George’s flat-brimmed Colorado Avalanche hat and threw it over the balcony into the bushes below. George, stunned and unsure what to do simply said, “my hat…”, and Sophia ‘apologetically’ offered to help him look for it .
By the time they got to the bottom of the hill, George (FINALLY) realized his opportunity… They had their first kiss and their story as more than just friends began.
Over the following years, George and Sophia headed separate directions, but never stayed apart for long. They dated long distance while he was playing hockey in the USHL in Waterloo, Iowa and at St. Lawrence University in the arctic tundra; while she was ‘studying’ at Wake Forest University down south. Sophia went on to live and work in New York and George travelled throughout North America playing hockey.
Once he hung up his skates, George moved to Connecticut where he started his “Next Shift” after hockey. Not long after, Sophia and Rigby (their first dachshund) moved back to Connecticut to join him - - adopting (aka stealing) their second dachshund, Boomer, along the way.
Over the years, they made a home and life together, went on trips, took part in each others hobbies, visited their favorite places, and spent time with each other’s family and friends. Always drawn to one another, searching for opportunities to be together, working on their timing, challenging and supporting one another.
Over the Years
The Proposal
just a FEW years later...
After many years, some not so subtle hints, and trial and error in getting the timing and opportunity right (…go figure) - - George finally figured it.
Sophia was in Watch Hill for the week when George called her and told her she had been gone long enough and she had to come home for the weekend. After much protest and interrogation, a ‘bewildered’ Sophia eventually agreed to come home.
But, of course, a day later and almost two hours from the original ETA, Sophia was still MIA. George, while on the phone with her Mom anxiously looking for her, finally got a moment of relief when Sophia pulled into the driveway. Naturally, she had decided to make a few impromptu stops on the way home to pick-up cider, honey, apple-pie and cinnamon covered donuts as a surprise for George.
George was already at her car before she could open her door, and he immediately gave her a kiss and suggested they take the dogs for a walk to their favorite spot in their new town, Pear Tree Point Beach. Sophia had her suspicions (especially, with the proposal of a walk by George), but at each given opportunity over the next hour, George was not setting the hook.
She had just resigned to believing it was just another walk, as they made their way to the end of the beach. Before she knew it he was squeezing her hand, stumbling to get down on one knee, and asking if she would marry him with his grandmothers ring. There, they had their last kiss as more than just friends and now forever partners.
George’s day of surprise(s).
Later that night, George, surprised Sophia for the second time that day with some of their closest friends and family waiting for them at their home - - along with enough champagne, charcuterie, flowers and balloons to last for months. He had orchestrated all of this without her having a clue. She was reduced to tears, not only from two of the biggest and best surprises that day (and for a lifetime), but from all the love, support and contributions from her friends and family to make this special day happen.
