The first time we met was in the backyard of a house that Golnar was house sitting, before a night of dancing at the Echoplex. Golnar had Eric and Mark over to hang out before the club night; Mark brought along a few friends, including Arbel, to dance on stage at Bootie LA later that night. We didn't interact too much that first evening, but Arbel became a member of the dance group after that night, and it began a string of subsequent evenings of rehearsing and dancing where we continued to spend more time around each other. July 2015. On a whim, Arbel called Eric to see if he wanted to grab a drink at a Silver Lake bar called Akbar in the evening. Eric, who happened to be on a solo hike in Griffith Park where he normally didn't get phone reception, was surprised a call was coming through. He said yes. Prior to meeting up, Arbel had a call with his Savta (grandmother) in Israel for her 80th birthday, where he ended up opening up about his lack of a love life. She responded with empowering, sage advice that helped him regain his confidence heading into what would be our first date. We were both excited to be getting a drink that night with a cute boy, but little did we know this would be our first date and the start of a life together.

[As told by Arbel] This story begins at Coachella, in the spring of 2019. One of Eric's favorite artists, Tame Impala, was headlining the second night of the festival. The set opened massively with one of their most charged and recognizable hits, 'Let It Happen.' The music brought Eric to another level, so much so that he later confessed to momentarily believing I had somehow set up the headlining event with the band as a way to propose. As much as I love him thinking I have that much pull, this was not the case (and it did not happen). But it did set in motion a four-month long secret mission to pull off the only alternative to a Coachella proposal: a Disneyland one. I had secretly planned for a few close friends, all of my family, and Eric's sister – from LA to San Francisco, Phoenix to New York – to all appear at Disneyland on our four year anniversary to, well... let it happen. It literally took a village (18 people to be exact), but I managed to "sneak" the family into Disneyland and hide them on Tom Sawyer's Island without Eric suspecting a thing. As we entered the park, our friends jumped into improv mode, setting the stage for why we needed to head to the island straightaway. As we boarded the raft across the Rivers of America, the butterflies set in. I made sure Eric was the first one up the stairs. The moment he emerged onto the platform, he immediately turned back to me and said, "I think I see your Dad. Did you know your Dad is here?" "There are other people there too," I replied, and instantly started playing 'Let It Happen' on my phone. Eric immediately looked down for The Box, and sure enough there it was in my hand. I led him to the center of the platform, and with New Orleans Square as our backdrop and the Mark Twain boat passing by, I got down on one knee and, through many tears, asked Eric to spend his life with me. He immediately said yes. We spent the beautiful day together in one of our favorite places. The happiest place on Earth.

[As told by Eric] Arbel loves surprises. And by this I mean that he loves surprising others. As a good example, have him tell you the story of when he proposed to me at Disneyland. It was an open discussion between the two of us subsequent to that day that I would get an engagement ring for Arbel as well. Discussed – what that ring should be. Undiscussed – when and how I would give him said ring. And while I too do not have the industry clout to personally ask a favorite artist to take part in a return proposal... Lizzo tickets did happen to go on sale the weekend Arbel was out of town on business. Sometimes, driving down Sunset Boulevard can spark moments of inspiration for those who go looking for it. So when I drove by the Hollywood Palladium while contemplating how to surprise a surprise master with something already in open discussion, and then saw the words LIZZO – CUZ I LOVE YOU TOO splashed on tour posters, I realized in a flash of lightning how to steal that thunder and strike big. Cut to – The night of the show. I throw Arbel off the surprise of a Return Proposal scent by distracting him with the surprise of Lizzo tickets. Showing up unannounced at an event he was attending nearby, I got down on one knee, and said, "Arbel – would you like to go see Lizzo with me tonight?" For him, it was the next best thing. For me, it was Pt. 1 of 'Operation Re-Propose: Cuz I Love You Too.' Entranced that we were suddenly inside the Palladium about to experience the gospel of Lizzo, Arbel saved our spot on the floor as I snuck away "to go to the bathroom" (to write the Proposal in my Notes app – there'd be no way I'd be heard over the blessed music when the moment arrived!) I too wondered when exactly that would be. But Lizzo cameth, and I understood I would know when it happened to let it happen. So when 'Cuz I Love You' began, the butterflies flew, and I handed Arbel my phone and then slowly got down on one knee. Kisses. Hugs. Tears. And of course, a YES.