In the beginning, there was Barbara, patron saint of office administration. The all-knowing surveyor of an office building called Leavell, on the campus of The University of Mississippi, where students prayed to Faulkner and the Magnolia Trees.

Barbara, with her power, assigned two people to the same office: Leavell 202. Two people who were both coming to the English program as graduate students to follow their respective dreams. When Elisa walked into the Leavell 202, she didn’t know she would be greeted by the warmest and funniest person she had met in a long time. Joshua told Elisa a three-part lettuce joke and there she knew she wanted to be friends with that person. At another time, Joshua found Elisa eating hot cheetos while reading, and there he knew they would be good friends. With a love of spicy snacks and their weird humor, two people became good friends, doing their readings together in the evening hours of Mississippi nights, being supportive officemates!

Elisa and Joshua also worked at the same restaurant: The Oxford Canteen. Out of an old tire shop, Elisa would work front-of-house on insane Oxford Football Brunch Sundays, running food & bussing, while Joshua worked the line in the kitchen, sometimes making 30+ breakfast tacos all at once. During shifts, the two got to exchange glances through the prep window, as Joshua put up tacos and Elisa took them to serve to customers. They would also have side conversations, meeting at the back kitchen sink to share a laugh amidst the busyness. At the end of some of those shifts, Joshua was able to create tacos for the entire staff to take home, and would write cute little notes on Elisa’s container.

Later, they also got to hang out in their own fortitude of silence—in the Writing Center. After teaching her section, Elisa would come by the Writing Center where Joshua worked and they would catch up on each other’s days in the large, sound-proof glass rooms in the Writing Center.

There was also the pub crawl attended by a large group of English graduate students. There were many stops, but the one stop that shifted the whole evening for everyone was Funky’s daiquiris. After that, the group went to another place with dancing where Joshua and Elisa danced together. Then, they ended at the trusty ol’ bar: The Blind Pig. Joshua and Elisa sat side by side at the counter and talked about life. A friend noticed the exchange and later said to Joshua, “I think Elisa likes you.” At that point, Elisa had not realized she had a crush on Joshua.

Later that year, when Joshua went home for break, Elisa realized she would not see or talk to him for six whole weeks. This made her strangely sad, telling her roommates, they both made the connection: “you like him,” they said. Tucking away the crush for now, Elisa got through the break and waited to see what the new year would bring.



Then, there was the infamous bowling game. The Oxford Canteen crew got together to have a night of fun, bowling, and hanging out. Another aspect of their friendship was Joshua and Elisa’s mutual love for competition. From being beer pong partners to winning game nights, bowling was no exception. Joshua said to Elisa, “Let’s make a wager. Movie night at my house. Winner picks the movie. Loser brings the snacks.” In Elisa’s mind, all she heard was “movie night at his house? I’ve never hung out there, just him and I. Is this a date?” Either way, it felt like a win, but she still wanted to beat him at bowling. They each bowled their best, and Joshua won by one point! He chose Knives Out and she brought a charcuterie board. They sat on opposite ends of the couch.

After that, Elisa went to Nashville to celebrate her birthday with her twin and family. Before she left, Joshua told her she should go to his favorite boba spot. Little did he know, Elisa would not only try the boba, but she planned to bring some back for him. (Especially since there was no good boba in Oxford at the time). She put the milk tea and ice in a thermos, stored the boba separately, and brought it to him. An hour out of Oxford, she called him and asked if she could come over. He said, of course. She showed up with the boba and it completely made his day! He said, “I have something for you as well.” He pulls out a paper brown bag full of gluten free treats from Trader Joes (also not in Oxford). She pulls out her favorite gluten free bagels and on there is a note. As she’s reading it, Joshua says, “hey, I need to talk to you.” There, they share their mutual feelings for one another.

March 23, 2020—Joshua had an original putt putt birthday date planned in Memphis where he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend. It didn’t go through because of COVID lockdowns were just beginning and the putt putt placed was closed. So Joshua thought of a back-up plan. While Elisa was with her friend in a zoom class in her bedroom, Joshua snuck into the first floor living room and created a Casino Night from scratch. There was a blackjack station, poker station, and a card-board creation of a craps table.

When Elisa came down, they played the night away, and they knew that both of us were all-in!



Elisa and Joshua migrated to Boston to follow their dreams togethers.

Joshua proposed to Elisa at a private karaoke room in Chinatown, Boston on a Tuesday afternoon. He sang to her a love song (the first time she had heard him sing). After that, they sang a duet to ABBA. Elisa was too caught up in the moment to know what was about to happen. When she went up to choose her individual song, she whirled around to get his approval, and there, Joshua was on his knee with a glowing, ring box. (Seriously, the box lit up). Joshua professed his love and desire for a future together and Elisa didn't remember a word. The surprise caused her to black out for a moment. She came to when she heard the words: "Will you marry me?" With an immediate yes, Joshua placed the beautiful, elegant ring made from his grandmother's diamonds on her finger. They stepped out the dark karaoke room into the sunny afternoon, the ring glinting and the two elated. Later that day, they celebrated with their Boston friends at a surprise engagement party planned by Joshua.

They have since then moved in with each other and enjoy making a cozy nest together.

No matter where Joshua and Elisa go, they will find home with each other. No matter the chaos of the wind, they will find shelter in the way they hold each other. No matter what, they have each other's back—in all their ambitions, all their dreams, and all their hopes.