Brad and Mike :: Engaged :: Moore State Park, Paxton, MA
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Chapter 1: It sure is a small world. What are the chances that two amazingly handsome gentlemen from Massachusetts would not only meet in Texas but fall in love, the kind of love that lead them to the decision to spend the rest of their lives together? Well, apparently the chances are great because it happened. That's right dearest friends and family, sit back and relax as you take the next few minutes to enjoy their story, the two Massachusetts men, Brad Demers and Michael Daniels, who met in Texas and fell in love.
So fate would have it that Brad and Michael, at this point two complete strangers, would be reporting for duty in Texas to attend the same school. On day one, Sergeant Daniels and Sergeant Demers being so close in the alphabet were assigned to the same squad for accountability purposes. Being as observant as he his, Brad noticed he shared something in common with Michael, and it wasn't just his good looks. Brad noticed on the contact roster that Michael also had a 413 area code and needed to find out where in Massachusetts he was from. And that folks, is how the ice was broken between Brad and Michael.
After a day or two, and maybe a few text messages back and forth, shy Michael invited outgoing and extremely friendly Brad to run some errands with him. The ride was filled with conversations ranging from Army-life to home-life and a bunch of random get-to-know-you questions in-between. The trip that day in September ended up with the two of them getting dinner at Torchy’s Tacos. Good food is very important to both Brad and Michael. Every Friday for sure, and sometimes during the week, to break from the studying, Brad and Michael would venture out together and explore the tastes of San Antonio.
Chapter 2: Over the course of a couple months Brad and Michael spent lots of time together, finding lots of shared interests, making new friends, and enjoying each other's company. December rolled around and Brad received an email that would just simply crush the both of them.
That next morning Brad had to leave and head back to Massachusetts, as his unit was ramping up for a deployment. Brad and Michael had grown really close and neither of them were ready for goodbye. The next time Michael and Brad would see each other was during a trip home Michael took for Christmas. At this point Brad got to meet some of Michael’s family and friends (another long story about that Christmas break, full of suspense, feel free to ask about it at some point). The title of boyfriends got passed around, finally, and Brad made a promise to Michael during this trip to visit as much as possible, and he did.
Every month Brad planned a 4-day trip down to Texas to visit with Michael. On occasion, he would throw in a surprise visit, too. Brad and Michael's love for each other grew strong. They talked every day when they were half a country away and counted their blessing when they got to spend time together exploring Texas. July rapidly approached and it was time for Brad to deploy. As if four days once a month wasn't tough enough, Brad and Michael's love was about to be tested to its fullest with having to be half a world apart for a full year.
Chapter 3: Their love was tried, and clearly it was true. Brad came home from his deployment safe and sound, and Michael was waiting right there at the airport for him. Yes, lots of tears. While deployed, Brad and Michael were able to talk, a lot, which got them through this tough time. Vacations were planned for when Brad got home. A trip to Washington was in the works. Unknowingly to Michael, more than just a vacation was planned. Over the course of his deployment, Brad had worked with friends and family to plan one of the most special days of both their lives.
June 14, 2017, was a bright and sunny day. Brad took Michael for a lakeside hike surrounded by the Snoqualmie Mountains. Brad planned a picnic lunch and played some love songs softly in the background. Out came a bottle of champagne and Garth Brooks “Your Song” started to play. Who knew Brad was such a romantic? After a few sips of bubblies and the song finishing Brad made Michael stand up. On one knee, Brad pulled a ring from his bag, through tear-filled eyes, the both of them, Brad asked the question that would complete both their lives.
“Michael Francis Daniels, will you be with me always and forever - will you marry me?”
