Love at first sight...
Okay not so much. We were just friends through most of college, and despite Kane's initial advancements, stayed that way until the middle of Senior year. It was amazing how quickly a great friendship transformed into a fierce love (Kane believes Leanne was secretly pining for him for years). We did long-distance after college...
[omitted for brevity]
So when we found our way back to each other years later, we knew it was meant to be forever. We love each other very deeply, and are so thankful for those who are able to join us as well as those who are with us in spirit.
So here we are...Let's do this!
THE COLLEGE YEARS
As mentioned above, Leanne long-harbored a love for Kane from early on at Notre Dame (writer's liberty taken). We met through our friend Greg, who went to high school with Leanne and would eventually become Kane's roommate. Leanne became an extension of the Zahm guys, which was Kane's dorm for all four years of school.
Both of us are diehard ND football fans, but for Leanne her fandom is something of a family affliction...literally. Leanne's sister Karen and brother-in-law Dan also graduated as Domers. Leanne's brother Craig is an ND grad, and his fiance Susanna looks pretty Irish herself! The youngest Wiborg, Johnny, was born in March, just in time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. If you ask him, he's the best of the bunch.
LONG DISTANCE
So much of our relationship has been defined by being apart, that we had to learn how to be in the same city. Kane is no picnic to live with (his words) and neither is Leanne (also his words). Sometimes this feels like a 15-year journey to get to this moment. But the bumps were worth the landing.
Los angeles
Roll down the window, put down the top, Crank up the Beach Boys, baby don't let the muuuusic stop.
Kane's hometown and (drum roll) Leanne's current city!
chicago
"Hey let's just go for a quick walk," Leanne says prior to dragging Kane 14 miles through the Chicago ice. But the Buffalo Chicken Nachos and Gumballhead (beer) were worth it.
The weather was a bit of an adjustment. But the City and everything it had to offer weren't. Chicago is great, and we go back often. Besides, we didn't know how good we had it until...
iowa city
Yup, Iowa City. Like the one in Iowa. Don't know where Iowa is on a map? Neither did we. Leanne relocated here for a stint with work, and while the city's energy was a little bit less...energetic...than Chicago or LA, the people were awesome, the food was delicious, and town really did become electric when the Hawkeyes were playing. Without exaggeration the best corn we've ever had.
and back again
Kane was visiting for Thanksgiving, traversing eastern Iowa to visit Target stores over Black Friday when she got the call. "There is an opening just east of Los Angeles...are you interested?"
Spoiler Alert: this part goes well.
Leanne's family flew out to Los Angeles and met up with Kane's parents to surprise Leanne. After Leanne kept Kane guessing on her schedule until the very end, Kane convinced her to go on a "walk to check out some house nearby" on our way to dinner. When we stumbled on our family all huddled together on a gorgeous walk street in Manhattan Beach, that's when it happened. And while Kane was probably the most nervous he's ever been, it was a perfect weekend...
Leanne swears she didn't cry. But Kane has the pictures to prove it.
Kane cried.
