It was picture day for Southeastern Football. The team stacked the bleachers for a team photo while the track team used the field for a workout. That’s when Justin first laid eyes on Addison. “See her in the maroon shirt?” he pointed. “I shall have her.”

A few weeks later, the two ran into each other outside of the cafeteria. There Justin told Addison that he had been looking for her, and even after whiffing on giving any valid reason as to why, they exchanged contacts. A few weeks later, he convinced her that spending time together would be mutually beneficial. He helped her with Spanish homework. She cracked his riddles. After that, interest was officially piqued.

Unfortunately, Justin’s time in Louisiana was cut short. Upon learning the news of his imminent departure, Addison decided to make her first escape attempt. A notion Justin quickly dismissed. Not long after, she was visiting California, the first of many trips the two took together.

The stars weren’t perfectly aligned however, as distance and ambition did their best to separate the two. Addison had three years left as a student athlete at SLU and then would start her career in sports sponsorships. Justin galivanted around the world with stints in Paris (France), Charleston (IL), and Clarksville (TN), but they managed to find each other at each stop. Then Covid happened. Justin had just moved to Cheney (WA), where he recruited Addison to quarantine with him.

Not long after, serious plans were in the works. Addison was working at LSU when Justin was hired at Florida, so after years of surviving on facetime calls and weekend rendezvous, they decided it was finally time to live in the same state. They moved to Florida, Justin taking a job at UF and Addison at UCF.

The 10-year courtship has several highlights: cross-country road trips, climbing Mt. Wilson, a summer in Europe, historic sporting events, Mardi Gras balls, welcoming their nephews and niece, adventures with Iris and Geoffrey, and meeting amazing people along the way.

The two have grown from independent college kids to inseparable partners building a bright future. Addison kicked her picky eating habits and Justin plans more than 3 hours in advance. They continue to grow together and challenge each other.

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