Lauren

     Pete and Lauren met at the end of Summer 2008. As Lauren was coming into work one morning she and Pete crossed paths as she came down the stairs of the parking garage and he went up. These parking garage, chance encounters continued and the two began to look forward to their daily meetings. They quickly discovered that not only did they work in the same building, they worked in the same office – the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (although in different groups with different chains of command). Lauren and Pete began to chat at work but Lauren soon suggested Pete email his instant message (IM) screen name to her so they could chat on their personal computers.      It was Wednesday, October 15th and Lauren waited patiently (ok – she checked email every 30 seconds) for Pete’s note. She was thrilled to see the email pop-up and immediately IM’d him. They chatted Wednesday and Thursday evenings. That weekend, Pete even sent Lauren an email from the Shenandoah where he was camping with friends. On Monday, October 20th Pete asked Lauren for her phone number. His next IM message read “Ring, ring,” and then Lauren’s phone rang. Pete asked her if he could take her on a date the following Saturday evening. Lauren excitedly said, “Yes!”      On Saturday, October 25th Pete picked up Lauren at her home and gave her one yellow rose (which she has to this day). They had dinner at Taste of Morocco in the Clarendon area of Arlington, Virginia. After a delicious meal (and an intriguing belly dancer performing), the pair saw a Comedy Sports show in Ballston. Upon dropping Lauren off that night, the couple shared their first kiss. Pete called Lauren the next day and the two soon became inseparable. They spent most evenings and weekends together for the next several months. In January 2009, Lauren met Pete’s son Sam over the Martin Luther King holiday and then met Nate in April over Spring Break. The four bonded quickly together. By August 2009, Pete and Lauren took the next step and moved in together. In October, they shared their first anniversary at McCormick and Schmick’s at National Harbor.      Lauren and Pete met their first major challenge in April 2010. Lauren was diagnosed with a large, benign tumor in her liver that required major surgery. Pete was at Lauren’s side from the first meeting with the surgeon to last follow-up visit. He helped her recover for the long month after surgery. Throughout this, their relationship and love grew even stronger.      Then on July 10, 2010, Pete took Lauren to National Harbor for the afternoon. The pair walked out on the farthest pier. As Lauren looked at the Wilson Bridge, she turned and found Pete on one knee holding a beautiful ring. Pete simply said, “Will you marry me?” Lauren smiled widely and said, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” And that is how Pete and Lauren came to be the happy couple they are today.