We met in the most unexpected way—at Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, during a high school trip to New York.



The trip was for our high school basketball team to play at nationals in New York. We were just a freshman cheerleader, and a junior in the marching band, neither of us knowing what this trip would mean for us. A bus,a photo request and fate brought us together.



Our first real conversation happened after Eric was asked to take a photo of the cheerleading squad. Alena, fresh off a frustrating encounter with other cheerleaders ,marched right up to him, dropped a few choice words about the other girls, and Eric was hooked. Eric invited her to sit together for the bus ride back home, but before should could another cheerleader sat next to him. Alena waited until she got up for a second and then dove into the seat and stayed there for the whole ride home.



We talked the entire 24-hour bus ride back to Georgia (including through multiple dramatic bus breakdowns) and when we got back home we just didn’t stop.



Alena’s mom had strict rules about not dating anyone older, but when Alena casually mentioned that Eric’s sister was adopted , she said “Well…okay then.” And so began our story.



Over the next ten years we have grown together, both as a couple and as individuals. Life hasn’t always been easy but together we have come a long way. Four months before our 10 year anniversary, on December 18 2024, Eric proposed.



It’s been a long road from a broken-down bus in New York to our new home in Georgia, and we can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives with all of you by our side.