"5 years ago, I was a freshman in college and a cheerleader at Florida State University. I had just started a new workout schedule for the cheerleading team and it just so happened that Will got switched to the same workout schedule as well. We had been on the same cheerleading team for about half a year, but he was on the Coed team and I was on the All Girl team. So, this was our first real interaction. We also both happened to have broken ankles. So, between weekly workouts and ankle rehab, we started to spend a lot of time together. One day I thought to myself, “Rachel are you really falling for a male cheerleader…” Yes, yes I was.
Fast forward to 4 years later, Will told me that he made reservations for us to go to dinner to celebrate me getting my first teaching job and he getting a job at the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research at Florida State. My overanalyzing self started to think, “He never plans dinners… Could this be the moment… OMG… Rachel don’t get ahead of yourself…” and so I talked myself out of getting too excited. But, once again I began overanalyzing the situation. I thought to myself, “Well, he won’t ask unless my mom is here”. So I called my mom who lives in Tampa and asked her “Whatcha doing?” and she said “Oh I’m just at Walmart”. So I started to grill her… “Well what are you buying?”
“Oh just some makeup”
“Well what are you doing after?”
“I think I’m going to go to Target and get some new bathing suits”
“Okay well I’ll talk to you later then”.
So I started to go about my day and get dressed for dinner. But I wasn’t fully convinced by her so I decided to FaceTime her to see where she was. But, she declined me. She instantly called me back and said she couldn’t facetime because she was driving in traffic and it was raining but she could talk to me on the phone. (Shout out to my mom because despite my CSI investigation skills, that woman didn’t bat an eye). Will took me to a beautiful fountain in Downtown Tallahassee that was in front of the restaurant we were going to. My whole family and closest friends were there hiding. It was there that he got down on one knee and popped the question and I proceeded with tears and a lot of “Is this real?” and “Are you serious?” but eventually I shouted “YES”.
From workouts and rehab, to counting down the days until we are married, I could not imagine this life without you. You truly bring out the best of me every day. I cannot wait to start this journey with you. Will, I cannot wait to be your wife! I love you to the moon and back."
