A Laugh-out-loud Love Story

Who knew that such a thing existed? If you are familiar with our wedding website, than you did! However, others may not have been so lucky. So, for those who have not had the pleasure (and because I've been busy writing articles about cat vaccinations and litter boxes) ... I give you: the true story of Keith and Megan. (As told by Megan.)

Truly, Keith is a Cancer, born on June 25, 1978. From a young age, he showed his precocious and inquisitive nature. “Keith always made sure his clothes matched, and his socks matched his clothes,” proud mother Karen proclaims. He also started playing the violin and reading at age 3 and was personally chosen as Superman’s protégé at the tender age of 5. The protector of younger siblings Nick and Jessica, young Keith lived to serve and obey and play wiffle ball.

Throughout his school years at various Catholic schools in Northern Kentucky, Keith excelled at math, science, and spitwads. Best friend since age 4, Michael Brinkman calls Keith a “rabble rouser” but maintains that it “was all in good fun.” At Holy Cross High School, Keith turned his attention to athletic pursuits, lettering in baseball, soccer, cross country, and track. In his spare time, he also managed to be on student council, maintain excellent grades, and be tapped for the Calculus award his senior year. After such an illustrious beginning to his scholarly pursuits, Keith was headed to major in computer engineering at the University of Dayton in the fall of 1996.

Unlike Keith, Megan did not excel in math. Born on April 2, 1978, she decided early on that, as the Wonderwoman costume didn’t flatter her curvaceous figure (see photo), she would become an actress just like Daisy Duke. In her childhood years, she fought with older sister Amy, harassed younger sister Erin, and took acting lessons. By the age of 10, she’d become world-wise and understood it’s often difficult to succeed overnight in acting. At this point, she took a more serious interest in her schooling and determined that she would “do something with computers” by day and act in her spare time until she was discovered. “Megan would always do what she wanted to do,” her mother Helen shrugs. “She takes after her mother’s side of the family,” adds father Chuck.

Throughout middle school and high school, Megan continued to act and study, study and act. Taking a decided aversion to math, she focused on English and boys. When not French-rolling her jeans or rollerskating with Ashley and Jenny, she was usually found with her nose in a book. Her saving grace occurred when, as the result of a summer crush after 7th grade, she found soccer. In high school, she expanded her interests, warming the bench in freshman basketball, playing soccer, joining marching band and, of course, becoming President of Drama Club. When she graduated from Avon Lake High School in June 1996, she headed for the University of Dayton to major in English and minor in French. “She promised not to fraternize with people at college,” childhood friend Emily remarks. “I don’t know what happened.”

What Emily couldn’t know was the irresistible attraction pulling Megan and Keith together. By December of their freshman year, Megan “had her eye” on Keith and had already indicated as much to her family and friends. College friend and roommate Laurie remembers, “Megan used to say that she thought Keith would treat his girlfriends really well, and she would look really wistful. That’s when I knew she liked him.”

Likewise, Keith’s college roommate and friend Chris had noticed that Keith was paying extra attention to Megan. “He was always quiet,” Chris says, “but I knew all along he liked her. And I’m a lawyer, so I can’t lie about things like that.”

In March of their freshman year, Megan and Keith finally told each other how they felt and starting dating. Through the good times of college and the difficult times of being separated by an ocean when Megan was volunteering in England, they’ve worked out their differences and reinforced their commitment to each other. Seven years later, they excitedly took the next step: combining their CD collections. “It’s a really big decision,” Keith says. “But we love each other, we want to be together for the rest of our lives, and I think we’re ready to seriously commit and purge any duplicate albums.”

“I love him. He’s fantastic,” Megan says simply. “And he tells me I’m smart and that I look gorgeous. If he asks me to get rid of a Beatles CD, I would do that for him.”

Keith and Megan were married on September 25, 2004, at a small ceremony somewhere near Cleveland, Ohio. Their kick-ass reception took place three weeks later on October 16, 2004, at the Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio.