A string, stretched at its greatest lengths, holding two ends together. Regardless of its length, the strength of this string holds them together.
The string holding them together was their connection. Miles away from one another, the willingness to continue even when there are challenges and setbacks.
Alexandria Landgraf, a digital mass communications and print journalism student at the University of Kentucky, and Wesley Omerso, a computer science and neuroscience student at Notre Dame, have been together for three years.
The two decided to continue their relationship together, regardless of the 330 miles between them.
The couple met in their high school marching band in New Albany, Indiana, Landgraf was the leader of the color guard and Omerso was the leader of the percussion section.
Omerso found out that Landgraf and her friend had feelings for him at the same time.
“Being an incredibly immature person I decided to put them both into a group chat and ask them how they felt about me at the same time, instead of talking to them one-on-one like any reasonable person,” Omerso said.
Since Oct. 21, 2021, the couple has been together and have had Valentine’s Day plans for every single year, regardless of distance.
“The past few years it’s been virtually . . . last year, we really both love legos and so the lego roses came out and so I was like, ‘Oh my gosh I have to send it to him’ . . . and then coincidentally he also bought the same roses for me,” Landgraf said.
The two have had virtual Valentine’s Day FaceTime movie dates in previous years in their relationship, and had the same meal from the same restaurant on the phone together to make the distance feel less far.
Although the couple’s plans aren’t fully confirmed yet for this year’s Valentine’s Day, they do have an idea of what they plan on doing on this special holiday.
“One of the big things is we’re going to get a tray, the heart-shaped tray of Chick-fil-A nuggets because it’s something we did for our very first Valentine’s Day together, and it’s something we hope to keep doing,” Omerso said.
The couple wants to be together this year and has plans to have Omerso come down from South Bend, Indiana, a 6-hour drive, for the holiday to come visit Landgraf in Lexington, Kentucky.
“Being with each other is the most valuable thing and so it really doesn’t matter what we’re going to do, we just want to be with each other,” Landgraf said.
However, it is hard to mention long distance without the challenges that come with it.
“We’re both extremely busy,” Landgraf said. “It’s really just finding time for each other because when you’re away from people and you don’t physically see them, it’s hard to be like, ‘Oh I didn’t even carve out time to like FaceTime or do a virtual date.”
The pair has been able to make their relationship not only stronger with distance, but by continuing to do the little things for each other to make it worth it.
“For me and Wesley, our relationship, we try to build it around God, we do devotionals together and read the Bible together, so we’re in the same place at the same time,” Landgraf said. “Whenever we are struggling, we will be like, ‘God is handling it and God can do anything.’”
Even with the challenges of long-distance and what it may bring, the holiday remains to be filled with love for the pair.
“It feels like our holiday . . . I don’t get to go take her out to a movie and a fancy dinner and give her flowers, because I would give her flowers any day of the week if I could,” Omerso said. “It’s a day I get to celebrate with her, but it doesn’t feel like we’re missing out on anything because we are long distance . . . we choose to make it ours.”
Everything counts for these two, with every call, virtual date and gift. The couple has been able to get through challenges regardless of whether or not others believe they can’t.
“Every single day of long-distance that we have been together, I’ve always called her right before we’ve gone to bed, there hasn’t been a single day that I haven’t done that,” Omerso said.
Their appreciation for one another continues to shine, not only through love, but with the certainty and trust they have for one another.
“If you know they’re the one, then they’re the one and it doesn’t matter what comes in between that,” Landgraf said. “I’ve talked to many people and they have said, ‘Oh my gosh I would never be able to do that’ and they haven’t experienced it yet . . . but if you really really love someone, you will do it.”
Long distance is something this pair choses to put effort into and make every moment count.
With this, the holiday is not just another day that passes by, it is another day to appreciate one another.
“Do the little things in a relationship,” Omerso said. “Even though we know we’ll be each other’s Valentines because we have been for the past four Valentine’s Days now, it’s important to ask . . . to say ‘I love you’, over and over again to make sure each partner remembers it.”
The couple proves day by day that their love is irreplaceable. The love they share is one that will last and continue to grow with each milestone and challenge that comes their way.
“You know the old adage is distance makes the heart grow fonder,” Omerso said. “And it definitely does.”
Leydis • Feb 15, 2025 at 10:24 am
It is the sweetest thing I have read in the Kernel. Love it!