Sydney and Donal met in the University of Minnesota Marching band, though they had shared classes and even lived on the same freshman dorm floor before that. Somehow, that still wasn’t enough to get on Sydney’s radar. In her defense, she was very busy hanging out with other friends at the time (Sorry, Donal).

Once they did form a connection, though, they clicked right away. Freshly vaccinated against COVID in April of 2021, they went on their first date: a walk around the Stone Arch Bridge. Neither were fully prepared for how much they kept wanting to talk, and ended up standing outside on the UMN campus for several hours after they had returned, freezing their fingers in what turned out to be quite a chilly spring wind. Along the way, they discovered that they share a surprising number of coincidences. Yes, they both have a twin. Yes, those twins both have bright red hair. Yes, they both also have twin cousins. And yes, those two sets of cousins share the exact same birthday. No, they cannot explain it. Yes, it’s weird.

After undergrad, they moved to Michigan to start their next chapter together. Donal began his Ph.D. in chemical engineering, and Sydney started a remote engineering consulting job. They have been lucky to build a wonderful community in Ann Arbor while staying close to their many favorite people back home in Minnesota.

As Sydney and Donal started to build their life together, they’ve adopted two cats, Maple and Oberon, who now generously allow Sydney and Donal to live in their home.

At the end of 2024, on an unusually warm winter day, Donal suggested they go for a walk to enjoy the weather. Sydney, fully prepared to spend the day sleeping in, was skeptical. Thankfully, she agreed to get out of bed, because that walk turned into a proposal. She’s been very glad she said yes (to both the walk and the question) ever since.