It's amazing what you can find on the internet...

Chip and Kate were both in the market for love, and the limited Blacksburg social scene was failing them both. They took drastic measures and tossed their lot into the swirling mix of cat videos, flash mob dances, and "you wont believe what happens next" click-bait that is the internet. After a few brief emails they found out they'd been working across the street from each other for years and decided to meet. True to his nature, Chip left Kate sitting alone in a bar for 20 minutes before he arrived. Fortunately, his good looks and charm won her over and the rest, as they say, is history. But you won't believe what happens next...

On a cold and windy night...

Chip and Kate were regularly seeing the Monday movie offering at the local theater The Lyric, enticed by the promise of free popcorn proceeding a sushi dinner at the restaurant next door. January 26, 2015 seemed to Kate like another regular Monday (a proper cold, windy and snowy Blacksburg Monday). Chip was a few steps behind as they hurried down the long path of sidewalk and steps that transition between Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg. At a large formal landing above College Street and across from the theater, he stopped and declared from behind her "I have an idea...". As Kate turned around, Chip was down on one knee with a beautiful custom sapphire ring in hand. She was, of course, caught off guard, just as Chip had intended. What he didn't expect was her initial response, "Are you sh***ing me right now?!" In her defense, it was cold and windy and she was, most likely, quite hungry. Chip was stunned by her response and Kate had to remind him that he had yet to ask her a question! She of course said YES and in their excitement decided to skip the movie after dinner and go home to call family and friends.

1971 MG Midget

Wanting to make the most of their dynamic-duo lifestyle and the scenic roads of southwest Virginia, Chip and Kate started thinking about getting a small convertible to scoot around in. Chip was seriously considering early 90's Miatas and in his searches happened upon a 1971 MG Midget for sale in Christiansburg. As an initial joke (you know what they say about British cars), he showed the ad to Kate who immediately fell in love with its "cute" factor. Chip agreed the car had charm and uniqueness factors unmatched by a Miata, but he could not ignore the challenges of maintaining an old British car or the thoughts of being stranded on the backroads of swVA thanks to their notorious reliability.  The car search casually continued, but the Midget plagued his thoughts. He finally decided to contact the seller after emphatic approval from Kate, and they scheduled a time to test drive the car. A few days passed and after long consideration and research, Chip called to make an offer if the car was still for sale only to hear it had just been sold the day before. While disappointed, he could not shake the thought that maybe he had dodged a real PITA and this was for the best. But he wasn't that lucky. A few hours later, the seller heard the buyer had no intentions of using the car and was only taking it as part of a multi-vehicle sale. Knowing how interested and enthusiastic Kate and Chip were with the car, the seller convinced the buyer that the MG should belong with the couple and promptly called to say it could be theirs if they still wanted it! And so the Midget made its way to a garage on Mourning Dove Dr where Kate and Chip proudly serve as its motoring custodians, continuing its restoration and keeping the petrol moving through its parts.

As they say, you never really own cars like this, you are merely their caretaker.