Our story begins on a hot Mississippi afternoon in early September 2012. It was an Ole Miss game day in The Grove. Heath was a second-year grad student in Philosophy and having drinks with his professors at their tent in front of Bryant Hall. Bill Lawhead, then chair of the Philosophy Department, introduced Heath to Rachael, who had just switched her major to Philosophy. Bill was probably just hoping for an academic connection, but ended up helping to create something far more than that. Our attraction was immediate and potent, and we have been inseparable since that day... though neither of us remembers exactly which Saturday in early September that was (this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows us well).

Our early relationship was filled with experiences that hint at where we are now. One good example was the first time Rachael visited Heath's apartment. Rather than be immediately repelled by the size and nerdiness of his bookshelves, she was immediately intrigued and impressed. Heath was doing huge internal fist-pumps at this. Conversely, Heath spent most of that evening ignoring Rachael and instead playing with Delta (pictured above), who liked him right away. This was definitely a test for Rachael, as she will never trust anyone who doesn't like dogs, and who would never love anyone her dog didn't approve of. Our compatibility was also laid bare early on by the discussions of philosophy (among many other subjects) that occurred frequently. We found that we were intrigued by the same things, such as philosophy of mind and theories of the self. We had, and still have, remarkably similar views on these deep topics. These sorts of discussions still happen to this day, usually spontaneously. They are long, intense, challenging, and rewarding. The TV turns off, day turns into night, and eventually all is still save two minds tackling the complexity and beauty of the world together.

Our first big test came in 2015. Heath landed a job at a technology startup company, his break into the industry. Unfortunately, it was in St. Louis, MO, almost 6 hours away from Oxford. With Rachael's encouragement, Heath took the role and moved. The distance was difficult, but never impacted our relationship. This test ended after Heath proposed that Christmas, in front of Bryant Hall on the Ole Miss campus, in the exact spot we met 3 years earlier. Rachael eventually got a "Yes!" out after first exclaiming "Are you serious!?!?!" about 3 or 4 times, and moved to St. Louis with Heath shortly after. We have always seemed to pass tests this way, where we come out the other side with greater understanding and strength to show for it. This fact, plus the little ways we grow together every day, makes the fortitude of our relationship evident.

In some senses, our relationship has evolved a great deal over the years. It is certainly much stronger now, and every day hereafter, than it has ever been. In other senses, it is still the same as it was on the day we first met, when we looked into each other's eyes and felt a powerful tug on our heartstrings. Now, with our marriage, the next great evolutionary step takes place. Although we have known for quite some time we were always meant for each other, it is no perfunctory ceremony. It is instead an affirmative cry out to the universe that we commit to each other absolutely, and that our love for one another will compound every day. We are sure that the sheer force of that love will soon begin generating its own gravitational force and alarming physicists around the world. It certainly feels that powerful to us.