Their first date, depending on who you ask, was a casual dinner or a clever trick. The diner named Pike's Soda Shop was the spot. It's a place not too serious with yummy chicken fingers and delicious milkshakes. Christie accepted the dinner invitation under the (false) pretense that "a handful of friends" would also be attending. These Other Parties were never part of The Plan, according to James. Regardless, the evening was very enjoyable, culminating in a hug-good-bye after Olde Mecklenburg Brewery beers and talk of stars and comets in the springtime night sky.

A plan was hatched by James, months in the making, to propose to Christie in State College, Pennsylvania, home to her parents and Pennsylvania State University. Christie had already coordinated flights and football tickets for a game late September 2017. James spent months looking for the perfect ring, a brilliant oval cut--solitaire and elegant. Perfect for Christie. After finding the one just a few weeks before the trip to Pennsylvania, they packed their bags (James was quite nervous... do you put the ring in your luggage and risk they lose it? Or do you keep it on your person and risk a TSA frisk?). After no issues, they landed and spent the first day with her parents. Unbeknownst to Christie, James' parents had also made the drive down to State College as part of the surprise and spent the evening with friends, brimming with excitement.

The next morning, a beautiful day, Christie woke up and suggested they go hiking! Not being the type to steamroll the girl he's proposing to, James agreed that it was a great plan (despite it not being the plan). The Famous Mount Nittany was the target and to it they drove. James had carefully stashed the ring in his wallet (who hikes with their wallet?). Alarmingly, James' parents had woken up early and also had the tremendous idea to go hiking. On the Famous Mount Nittany. James didn't know about this plan of theirs until the parents were on top of the mountain and James and Christie were on the bottom, both parties with no cell phone reception.

There are two trails, one easier than the other. James, being macho, suggested the more difficult one hoping the parents would not take the tricky trail down. Up the trail they went, and, with each turn, James prepared for the parental revelation. He decided that upon seeing them, he'd just propose right then and there. Fortunately, no parents revealed themselves during the hike. Upon reaching a beautiful overlook of the valley, James got down on one knee, and asked Christie to marry him.

She said "Yes!" ...

... after not saying much at all, simultaneously extending her finger into the ring and bursting into tears. Realizing fully what had happened, Christie had not actually heard James ask her anything and requested that he "do it again!". He repeated himself, recanting the main talking points of the previously given speech: cooking breakfast together, travelling together, him dispatching bugs from the house for her -- for the rest of their lives, together.

She said "Yes!" again!