Melissa & Brendan
Melissa & Brendan
Our Story
Brendan's Point of View
After my late night class in Mitchell Hall at UWL, a group of friends and I walked across the street to play bingo at the Eagles Nest. Although I did not win, I did get to enjoy cheap chicken tenders and the feeling of almost being a winner. On the way out I noticed a familiar face, it was Sam Yoder. I went over to talk to him and give him grief about how his Hayward baseball team would always beat my Ashland team in the high school baseball playoffs. After talking for a bit a girl named Kristen asked me if I would join her intramural basketball team because "I've watched you play and you are GOOOOOOD!" So I decided to play with her team.
During games, a tall, dark, cute girl showed up and watch games. I started looking for her every week, but had no care in the world to talk to her because "saying nothing at all is so much better than saying something stupid." Another night at bingo and I saw Kristen and her friends at a table so I went over to say hi and Melissa was with. I was extremely nervous and when I knew she wasn't watching I peaked over at her, still saying nothing. I knew I had a crush! Kristen tried begging for me to come hang out with her and her friends that evening, but I denied stating that I had a athletic trainer test the next morning, it was true! Later that night when I was practicing wrapping my roommate Andrew's foot, Melissa messaged me and invited me to hang out with her and her friends. I immediately stopped wrapping Andrew's foot and got ready to go. During our hangout, we were discussing who had who for Kristen's Secret Santa activity. When Kristen was telling me who had Melissa, Melissa tried to stick her head into the conversation and I pushed her forehead back with my pointer finger to get her out of the conversation and the way she looked at me and smiled, I knew that my crush liked me back!
When the night came to an end, I asked Melissa if she would watch the Packer game on Sunday with me, our first official date! Luckily, she said yes. We went to Howie's (a great La Crosse bar and grill) across from my apartment and sat at a table and talked before the game. We shared laughs, life stories, ambitions, goals, and talked about our families. When we looked up at the TV, the Packer game was done. I think they played Washington and won, but neither of us Packer fanatics watched a second of the game. We were too focused on each other. For our second date we tried to go downtown La Crosse to our favorite spot, Shooters. It was closed on Wednesday night so we just talked in the car outside of my apartment for a few hours instead. Our next date was to the rotary lights in downtown La Crosse. We got hot chocolate from Kwik Trip and walked around the park. After the first time going around the both of us did not want the date to end, so we walked around 2 more times! Our story and love for each other continued to grow and the dates and talks got better and better. Eventually after I graduated, I moved to the Milwaukee area to be near Melissa more often. In early July, 2023, Melissa and I traveled out to Cannon Beach, Oregon, where I shocked her with a surprise engagement and a hidden photographer on July, 20th. It was such a happy moment when she said yes, knowing that I was going to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!
Melissa's Point of View
I used to cheer on my friend's basketball team, not preferring to play myself. One day, early in the season, the team grew to include a tall, dark haired, elite basketball player. He was both skilled and thoughtful, searching for open players to pass the ball to rather than hogging shots he could have drained. He was here to ensure each player had an equal chance. In choosing not to shine, he shone.
I "accidentally" started sitting near his belongings when I watched the game, hoping he would take the hint and talk to me. But when he came to collect after a game, his face turned a little more red than exertion could explain, and practically fled the gym. Things came to a head a few weeks later when he ran into a table of my friends one night and said hello to everyone but me, steadfastly avoiding eye contact. What was this guy's problem?! I did the only logical thing; I asked him to hang out with my group of friends that night. He braved my girl group, and off we went!
It took me years to notice that his hand was on my shoulder in this photo. As it turns out, he didn't have much of a problem with me at all. :)
A few dates later I was smitten. We still have not run out of things to talk about, and found we are similar where it counts but different enough to challenge each other. His huge heart makes it easy to love him each day. I was honored to say "yes" on that Oregon beach, and I cannot wait to celebrate with each of you!
