Our story started at Walla Walla College in the Fall of 2004. Bethany had returned to campus for her junior year after a two year hiatus studying abroad and working in Colorado. Josh had finished several years of international study and traveling abroad and was polishing off a few degree requirements his senior year.

One evening in October, Josh had left his table at "the SAC," the snack shop on campus, for a moment to grab his sandwich from the counter. Meanwhile, Bethany and her friend Olivia came in looking for a place to perch and found a nice, empty table. Imagine their surprise when Josh walked straight up to their table, and said, "Hi, I'm Josh, and you're sitting at my table." After "accidentally" dining together, Bethany and Olivia invited Josh to join them for the evening watching movies at a friend's apartment.

One very creepy movie, a rollicking political debate over the upcoming presidential election, and a shared bowl of popcorn later, we couldn't deny the chemistry!

Yes, we met in the "SAC" -- the Student Association Center

We had our first date a week or so later at Merchants in downtown Walla Walla and the rest, as they say, is history!

Merchants in downtown Walla Walla

If only our story continued as simply as it began...

After Josh graduated from Walla Walla College the next spring, he was accepted to a two year Masters in Real Estate program at Clemson University in South Carolina. Josh braved the South and his first year of graduate school while Bethany finished up her senior year at Walla Walla College. Ah, the joy of bi-coastal dating!

Then, Bethany was accepted to the two-year MBA program at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At least we were in the same time zone!

After Josh graduated, he landed a job for CB Richard Ellis in Seattle, Washington, and we were bi-coastal again. Thankfully, JetBlue has direct flights between Boston and Seattle and we spent many sleepless nights on red eye flights to visit each other.

 

Seattle

 

 

Boston

Currently, Josh is still working in Seattle and Bethany is working in New York City. After we get married in December, Josh will relocate to New York City and our long distance days will be finally over!