Their love story began in the most unlikeliest of places; a chance meeting, the good old fashioned way.  Online.  The electronic harmony to be precise.  They both found online dating to be humorous but ultimately succumbed to the temptation to give it a try.  Andrea had a sudden overwhelming feeling that she should join "now" and did so that night; meanwhile, Ian was about to give up on the process after wading through mass mediocrity for too long.  Instantly matched by the algorithm.  After some flirtatious messaging and sharing of photos, they decided they must meet in person. 

On their first date, they walked and wandered together on their chosen path through the trees at Hoyt Arboretum.  Both adventurous souls hail from hearty Oregon Trail pioneer bloodline (as well as some stubborn Scottish heritage) so, to them, a little rain on their shoulders and chill on their cheeks only enhanced the date.  Smiles in their eyes, boots with red laces on their feet.   

An immediate closeness.  It felt as if they had always been walking arm-in-arm together for centuries, and that together they were supposed be, from that moment on; always and forever.  The pair walked, talked, took pictures of interesting things, then sat closely on the bench at the Redwood Deck where Ian made hot toddies with his miniature stove (so that's what was in his backpack!), they split squares of sea salted dark chocolate, and then Ian cut apple slices off one-by-one (one for him, one for Andrea, and so on) with his pocket knife.  Andrea's fingertips were cold so Ian gladly warmed them with his, as if that is what he always did.  A wedding had been in that very spot only about an hour prior to their arrival, so red rose petals still sprinkled the deck in front of them.  Future thoughts filled their minds.

They didn't want the date to end so decided to venture off to the Fireside restaurant for dinner.  Ian drove a Jeep, to the delight of Andrea who missed her dearly departed 1976 Jeep that she had turned into an ice cream truck.  They learned of their shared love for IPA and Bacon Burgers, but a difference in opinion on the subject of Mussels; which resulted in the disgusting little creatures ending up on Ian's side of the plate where they belong.  They talked for hours and even held hands across the table like an old couple.  Too soon, on account of time flying by, it had gotten late -and very dark- so Ian drove Andrea to her car back at the [technically closed] Arboretum. 

Before getting out of Ian's Jeep, they naturally leaned in for their first kiss... the undeniable sparks were suddenly interrupted by flashing lights: the park security guard!  They felt like teenagers getting caught past curfew.  Luckily, the lights were not on account of them smooching - t'was only a warning that the gate was getting locked.  They laughed; embraced once more; and, though they said goodnight in that moment, their hearts never parted again.  Soul mates.  Twin Flames.

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Since then, they have shared many adventures together including summiting Mt Hood, summiting Mt Adams, hiking through snow to stay at multiple fire lookouts around Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, adventuring and camping with Andrea's three kids, family gatherings, holidays.  Most of their adventuring and togetherness was with Mt Hood as their backdrop.  At Fivemile Butte and Clear Lake lookouts on Mt Hood they shared hopes and dreams about their future: buying a house together, selling/renting their existing respective homes, restoring a historic cabin together, getting married, combining their families, and having a child of their own.  At age 50 and age 44, they weren't sure if nature, and time, would be on their side enough to do these things in the typical status quo order/timeline... so, they decided to do them all at once!  They dreamed, prayed and manifested.  As destiny would unfold, their fears about being too old for child bearing were unfounded because, although it seemed to take forever at the time, Andrea became pregnant (on Mt Hood) only three months after they decided they wanted to welcome Adventure Baby's spirit into they lives sooner rather than later!  

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They got engaged where their relationship began.  Ian created a scavenger hunt that lead Andrea to follow the path taken on their first date.  He had secretly coordinated for six of their dear friends to each wait at different points along the trail to present Andrea with a mini sunflower.  With the procession of friends, and now a full bouquet of sunflowers, the clues lead Andrea to the Redwood deck where Ian was waiting with a picnic on the bench: hot toddies, chocolate, apples, and red rose petals strewn about.  He got down on one knee in the very spot where the very first photo of them was taken on their first date; this time with their friends bearing witness and surrounding them with support, love, and joy.

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Shortly after, they bought a house together in the big kids' school district, sold/rented their old houses, bought [and are currently restoring] a historic 1939 cabin on Mt Hood, and Jackson Dean McCluskey arrived healthy and happy; their ultimate little creation!  Next: get married!

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They will be married where their relationship blossomed.  On their special mountain there sits a warm respite at 7,000-ft (one mile above Timberline Lodge): the intimate and historic Silcox Hut.   In May of 2023 our pair trudged past this landmark four separate times, with determination to reach the Mt Hood summit.  Barely visible through the elements, Silcox Hut watched them pass by the first three times through frigid sideways sleet, rain and wet snow, sudden whiteout conditions, and then food poisoning which all forced them to return to the Timberline parking lot.  Finally, on their fourth attempt, they passed Silcox under the clear light of the midnight moon.  When dawn illuminated the world below, they got to look down upon Silcox from Mt Hood's summit together to recognize it as the last mile mark instead of the first mile it had been so many times before!  And now, with you as their witness, this warming hut will mark the rest of their lives together forward.  It will represent leaving past challenges behind and only the victorious last mile remains in front of them.  Andrea and Ian... Always and forever.