We're getting married!

Everything happens for a reason. Our relationship almost never was, but has instead turned into the most important thing there ever was. We met on Remembrance Day 2014 at a Gin Joint Aysha was working at. Andrew and his Mom had dinner, charmed the bartender as she struggled for 30 minutes to find the Raptors game, and then left. In hindsight, the odds of Andrew ever meeting that bartender again were slim. It was a restaurant we rarely went to, and one we probably would not have ever gone back to had it not been for a little bit of fate. A month later, Andrew’s grandma Jean passed away and Sue planned to take him and Stef out for dinner to celebrate her life and spend some time together. A moment like this completely changed the tone for a Wednesday night. Chris travelled from Toronto to see Sue and spend the night with family and it was his request that changed our destination for the evening; Aysha’s Gin Joint. After a wonderful evening with decent service, Andrew left again but this time a little smarter. He came back for Aysha just a little too late, moments after closing and missed his chance. Meanwhile Aysha went bar to bar, trying to serendipitously run into Andrew. Once again, on this cold Wednesday night it was not meant to be. But fate had brought us together again, and we were both coincidentally determined to see each other once more. The following Friday, Andrew had to make a stop before heading to Niagara Falls with Big T and Ali; he had to finally ask that bartender out. We have been together over four years, but the memories of life without each other have faded to a point that they are gone. Our idiosyncrasies are often too similar. Some people compliment each other with uniquely different strengths and weaknesses. For better of for worse, that is not us. We are truly two halves of the same whole and now that we have found each other, we will never be incomplete again.

Aysha planned a surprise 30th birthday party for Andrew, and against her nature, was able to keep it a complete secret. Unfortunately for her, Andrew found out and knew that it was the perfect opportunity. We had planned to go to Ivy for a couple drinks and some food, a cover story Aysha had been working on for weeks. Cleverly, Aysha tried to subtly plant the idea that there was a surprise birthday party on the weekend, but little did she know that a week earlier, her secret had already been revealed. Aysha had no idea that throughout the whole night, while she was gloating about her surprise, Andrew had his hand in his pocket desperately securing the ring that she would wear for the rest of her life. Andrew quietly expressed his nervousness to some of his friends and as Aysha gathered everyone to toast the birthday boy, he rehearsed the short speech he had been working on everyday for the past week. Finally, Aysha fought through the words she was making up on the spot and handed the spotlight to Andrew. The speech he had prepared wasn’t long, but every word meant something important. It was only fitting that he would propose on a night that Aysha had prepared for him. Little did Aysha know that morning, that the best gift she would give him was accepting forever with Andrew. It was about time Andrew proposed, and even though she may not have technically said yes, there was no mistaking the look in her eyes. The night was perfect. It started with Aysha scrambling when she saw that Dan arrived at the same time we did and probably would have ruined the surprise had Andrew not already known. Catman brought the ring but obviously pretended he brought his fantasy football championship ring instead, while Sue ushered Aysha to make a speech to set up Andrew’s. It was truly an incredible night. Humbling to remember that everyone was there to celebrate Andrew’s birthday, and magical that they could share this special moment with us.