THE LOVE STORY

Ron and Sarah met while both living in downtown Charleston and attending MUSC. Their first date was at a wine bar that no longer exists called Josephine’s in early August of 2019. Afterwards, they spent hours walking around the neighborhoods near Colonial Lake and talking. This set the tone for their love story as Ron and Sarah spent countless evenings walking around downtown Charleston during their time living there, enjoying the salty nighttime breeze and sound of water in the ocean and trickling in nearby fountains. Their favorite walk route was down Rutledge Avenue past Colonial Lake until they reached the water and The Battery, passing through White Point Gardens, going up Meeting Street past the mansions there, and taking Broad Street back to Colonial Lake. While on a sunset walk at the beach on Sullivan’s Island in September 2019, a very sweet man approached them and offered to take their picture. This is the first picture that Ron and Sarah have together. They have since referred to the man fondly as “Beach Grandpa.”

On a chilly winter evening in December 2019, Ron and Sarah shared their first “I Love You” with the Christmas tree lit up in the middle of the lake as the backdrop. Later that month, they went on their first trip together to Asheville, North Carolina. To prepare for the trip, Ron made a playlist called “Asheville Drive” that Ron and Sarah have turned to countless times since. During this trip, they hiked Looking Glass Rock Trail, had dinner at a vegan restaurant called Plant, and explored the art district. Ron later gifted Sarah a vase from one of the artists whose gallery they visited on that first trip together. They now have several pieces from that artist, Michael Hofman. They later recreated this trip in January of 2023, returning to Plant and staying in the same Airbnb. For their first Christmas together, they both got each other the same gifts: new journals.

Just half a year into dating, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was an incredibly uncertain time, especially for those in healthcare. Ron and Sarah still savored that time together with many evening walks through much less crowded Charleston. They look back on one particular instance where they shared an evening kiss in the middle of an empty King Street.

After Sarah completed a clinical rotation with the Indian Health Service and Ron graduated medical school, they officially moved in together at end of June 2021 in Charlotte where Sarah was completing her clinical rotations and Ron was starting his Family Medicine residency. They lived in an apartment in Uptown close to all the skyscrapers. This time in the city confirmed for them that they are not city people, but they thoroughly enjoyed many dinners on their patio and walks to admire the trees around historic Elmwood Cemetery next door.

After a year living together, Ron proposed to Sarah at Sapphire Point in June 2022, a viewpoint overlooking Dillon Reservoir and the mountains in Colorado. They celebrated with dinner and a few days of hiking. Ron and Sarah spent a year of many back-and-forths and long weekends with Sarah’s residency based in Ohio. When in Ohio, they would go to a particularly delicious vegan restaurant called Woodhouse Vegan and walk at Prairie Oaks Metro Park.

Throughout their relationship, they have traveled and spent time outdoors together across the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and the Mountain West. Their favorite town that they have visited was Bend, Oregon. Two residencies later, they are currently located in Charlotte, North Carolina. They enjoy walks along the greenway and trips to Green Brothers Juice Company for smoothies. Having both attended the University of South Carolina, Ron and Sarah are both proud Gamecocks however painful that may sometimes be.

They are looking forward to starting their marriage where their love story began, celebrating the years of commitment and love that they’ve already built together in an intimate setting with close family and friends. Moving forward, they are really excited for their next chapter in Colorado.