Q: How did you two meet?
Sarah: "We actually went to PT (physical therapy) school together and met in PT school. We were friends for the first two years. We went on a hiking trip with some other friends, and that is kind of when sparks flew."
Sam: "I feel like we are glossing over some details. She sat in front of me and we really were friends for a while. The hiking trip was supposed to be a group outing and several people started backing out until it was us and another couple."
Sarah: "It was an impromptu double date."
Sam: "Me, in my ignorance, I was like, 'is she single,' It still took a while after that."
Q: How did you sense the
attraction to each other?
Sarah: "We have a lot of things in common. We have PT in common, sports and activities. Our personalities seem to complement each other socially."
Sam: "It was definitely we shared a lot of experiences before we started dating. We would talk about PT stuff all the time. But it is nice to talk to someone else about that. I'm more athletic than she is."
Sarah: "Uh huh. He thinks, right?"
Q: Tell us about
the proposal.
Sam: "We got engaged on a hike, that was a heck of a hike. It was Seattle. I asked her parents (for her hand in marriage) here. And then, the couple we went on the initial hike with - when sparks flew - they're also PTs. We met them and they went on this hike with us. I liked the parallelism and circle of it all and also someone to capture the moment for us."
Sarah: "The place where we hiked is called Mailbox Peak. It was a lot more difficult than Sam anticipated. We were tired. Once we got there (to the top), he started acting a little odd. He was walking away, I guess he was looking for a good view. It (the proposal) was quite a surprise."
Sam: "I got tired."
Sarah: "Thinking about it."
Sam: "I was down on one knee and had to get back up."
Q: You took the
ring on the hike?
Sam: "The ring was in the backpack. I had to haul that up. We had been hanging up at the top. We fought over who carried the bag up and down. Sarah gave me the bag and I got the ring out of the bag. I think you turned around and started taking off again. Stubbornness almost prevented your own engagement, Sarah."
Sarah: "I don't remember who brought it up. It's all a blur after that."
Sam: "The whole time I was thinking, I hope she doesn't fall and scrape, mess up the ring."
Q: How are you
preparing for marriage?
Sarah: "We are reading 'The 5 Love Languages' (by Gary Chapman) book. I finished the book, and he just started."
Sam: "I know that they exist."
Q: What have you
learned so far in
your relationship?
Sarah: "How to keep each other happy."
Sam: "Listening is the biggest thing. I think it is easy for us because we are in different settings, but we are PTs and have different insights, which is a blessing and a curse. There's critique, and sometimes I find myself putting the brakes on and listening to what we are saying. It's been fun navigating."
Q: What is the
one characteristic
you admire most
about each other?
Sam: "Sarah is enormously kind. She is kind to everybody, regardless of their background, regardless of how well she knows them. And I think she has the natural ability to elevate the kindness of others."
Sarah: "That is sweet."
Sam: "Buttering you up."
Sarah: "For me, the thing I admire about him the most is his drive. He uses the term 'blind confidence.' He just knows he can, he knows we can, he knows his patients can. He does not need exterior cues, he just knows. He is going to work hard for that person or his family or those things." n