The Storyline
Mark and Samantha’s Hallmark love story began all the way back in the fall of 1993. Mark was a returning student to Woodstock Academy and Samantha was joining the class of ‘96 in their sophomore year. As it so happened they were both scheduled for the same biology class where the two became fast friends. They shared laughs, inside jokes, late night phone calls, and exchanged Christmas gifts of socks and knee high stockings.
After graduation Samantha continued her education in-state, attending college in Middletown, while Mark went a bit further to the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York.
Inevitably they lost touch as their journeys took them in different directions. Samantha went off to Boston and earned a Masters degree before eventually relocating to Denver, Colorado where she worked as an ASL interpreter and became an entrepreneur. Meanwhile Mark found his way to North Carolina for graduate school and discovered Chick-fil-A, working his way up to become an owner/operator.
There was no earthy reason that these one time friends would reconnect … except God seemed to have different plans!
It was the morning of October 21st, 2022 when Mark was doing some reflecting on life. He shared a Facebook post with his thoughts on relationships and caring for oneself. His introspection resonated with Samantha who just so happened to read it that morning. She took a moment to send an encouraging message of her own to thank Mark.
“Just saw your post … You said you didn’t know who your post was for; it was definitely for some of us. It matters and so do you. Thank you ❤️”
They exchanged several messages over the next few days, and before long they were texting one another. And within a couple of weeks they were once again talking on the phone into the wee hours of the morning just like they had done nearly 3 decades prior.
Neither was keen to admit they were developing feelings toward the other, fearing rejection and heartbreak. But their connection and their boldness grew with each passing evening. Mark made plans to visit Denver in December for business by day, and to see Samantha in the evenings. By the end of that trip they were both sure they had fallen helplessly in love with one another.
Over the next few months Mark and Samantha found as many opportunities to spend time with one another as possible. That meant racking up the frequent flyer mileage but also getting to experience some wonderful travel together.
But as much fun as they had being together each trip came with the knowledge that they would have to return to their respective homes and once aging be far away from each other. The couple decided once Samantha’s lease was up in June of last year that the timing was right for her to say a heartfelt goodbye to her life in Denver and to join Mark in North Carolina, which also gave them the chance to experience what dating was like when it wasn’t cross-country.
The more time they spent together and the more of life they experienced it was abundantly clear that they wanted to spend their lives together. All Mark had to do was ask! They traveled back to Connecticut in November and decided to visit the very place that their friendship began: Woodstock Academy. It seemed the most appropriate place for Mark to propose. Mark dropped to one knee and asked for Samantha’s hand in marriage. And she said “Yes!” (moments later affectionately calling him a dork 😂).
While their story may have been 30 years in the making, Mark and Samantha could not be more excited to spend the rest of their lives together laughing, loving, and sharing everything with each other. Thank you for being a part of their journey!
