Its funny to recall how Brandon and Jamie went from friendly acquaintances back in 2010 to building a life together now, but I’ll try.
Brandon remembers Jamie as the pretty girl who used to come into his bar with mutual friends after class. Jamie remembers Brandon as the cute and flirty bartender who always made her smile, but who she didn’t think actually liked her. They remained casual friends for years as they were both occupied in other relationships. About 10 years ago, a newly single and heartbroken Jamie remembers asking Brandon out for a drink just to “practice” being single. He obliged with zero expectations. However, to this day, he insists it wasn’t a date since they “didn’t go for a walk and didn’t have dessert”. That night when the heartbreak reared its ugly head, Brandon was there for her as a supportive friend before life once again took them in different directions. In the years that followed, Jamie would sometimes kick herself for having been too sad to see what a great guy was standing in front of her that night. In the meantime, Brandon moved to Ann Arbor to start a new chapter in his life. However, when the pandemic was finally dying down in 2021, Brandon complimented a photo Jamie posted with her new dog Frijolito. Since she had finally learned her lesson about hesitating, she messaged him hello right away and a daily correspondence began. This time it was Jamie’s turn to return the favor and lend support since Brandon’s health had taken a turn for the worse. They fell in love while Brandon was still in the hospital, and had their first official date when he got out on New Year’s Eve, 2022.
With all the challenges facing them in the beginning there were some false starts and difficulties, but with time, they learned that no matter the challenge they always ended up choosing each other as travel companions. Now here they are, ready and willing to work together to build the life they both dream. Adventures, struggles and life lessons have brought them to a place of peace and though the future is unknown, one thing is for certain, the journey is less daunting and far more enjoyable when they are walking together.