Many couples meet and become engaged on CatholicMatch. Comparatively few of those engagements involve tigers.
Lance (now 32) sent his first message to Megan (now 24) on June 25, 2018. The message led to another, then another, then to exchanging phone numbers and switching their conversation to text messages, then, after about two months, to where all such exchanges ought to lead: a first date at a BBQ joint (not that all first dates should be at BBQ places, just if you want to do it right).
Of course, there was a slight obstacle in that Lance lived in Rogers, Arkansas, while Megan dwelt in Rolla, Missouri. This, as for many long-distance couples, would be a difficulty throughout their relationship.
For this first date, they decided to meet about halfway in beautiful Branson, Missouri.
They ended up sitting in the restaurant and talking for five hours, suggesting the rule that a date is generally a success if it lasts longer than the drive it took to get there. This is especially true if the drive was over two hours.
The second date took place a month later at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield. It was there, talking of their favorite saints and admiring the many creatures great and small that, as Lance put it, “We decided to give each other a shot and officially became a couple.”
“It was Megan’s personality and how much we had in common that first attracted me to her” he recalled. “As well as her smile,” he added.
After this, Springfield became their go-to dating location, being about halfway between them and full of interesting things to do.
Of course, even a two-hour trip could be difficult to arrange, as they each were working full time and had sometimes unpredictable schedules. But patience and planning, and a will to work it out kept the relationship going.
Come November and Lance’s older brother was getting married. Lance invited Megan to be his guest at the event, and it was during that trip that he realized she was the one.
This was the first time he told her, “I love you.” As it turns out, she had been wanting to tell him the same thing, but wasn’t sure if she should.
“It was in that moment that I knew Lance was the one God intended for me,” she said.
The back-and-forth, with daily messages and meeting as often as they could, naturally continued.
Early in the new year, Lance travelled to Rolla to meet Megan’s family. Unbeknownst to her, he used the opportunity to gain their permission and blessing to propose to her.
Now it was only a matter of selecting the right time and place.
At this point, their one-year anniversary was coming up and they were looking for a way to celebrate the occasion. They thought it would be appropriate to return to the Dickerson Park Zoo, the place where they officially became a couple. As a bonus, Lance got in touch with the zoo and set up a special encounter with their tiger, Bunga (ladies, a man who helps you meet tigers is generally a keeper).
Little did Megan know, Lance was secretly making other arrangements with the zoo staff.
They arrived at Rolla for the big event. Lance was a nervous wreck, but the zoo employee who served as their contact person was cool as a cucumber, acting for all the world as though he and she hadn’t been conspiring together. The zookeepers introduced the couple to Bunga the tiger and allowed them to feed him.
They then informed the couple that the tiger was going to making them a painting (apparently, this is something tigers do).
They laid out colors of blue and purple, and the tiger dutifully set to work on (I assume) his neo-abstract-impressionist interpretation of true love. Once the painting was done, the zoo staff informed them that there was a secret message hidden in the painting.
Megan puzzled over this for a moment, trying to figure out what the message could be. Stumped, she turned to ask Lance if he had any ideas.
He was on one knee and offering her a ring.
Of course she said yes. What else do you say when there’s a tiger present?
Speaking of their relationship, Lance said, “What I appreciate the most about Megan how much she supports us as a couple. She’s the perfect partner to go through life with.”
Their wedding date is set for May 30, 2020.
