It was a tale as old as time- Hinge dating app. We met in person in Auburn, AL at Well Read, a local coffee shop that served wine and beer at night. Ben had just come back from Germany and was living in Columbus, GA. He showed up a FULL HOUR LATE to our date. But he was on eastern time and I was on central time. We quickly laughed off the misunderstanding as he sped his way to Alabama. Soon after meeting, we discovered that we would both be moving to Jacksonville, FL in the next month and made plans for another date there.

Ben was hunting for a job while in Jacksonville and found an amazing opportunity with Abbott in New York City, which meant he needed to move away a few months after we met. I would be located in Jacksonville for the next 2 years finishing my rotations for medical school and we decided to part ways. As Ben was leaving town he sent me a thoughtful card and book. He wished me the best for my next few years in school and his card has stayed pinned to my office cork board to this day.

While finishing my auditions for my last year of Medical School, I reached out to Ben asking if he was still living in the Northeast. I asked if he was close to the Massachusetts hospital I was working in. He was not at all close by but agreed immediately to meet up for a weekend in NYC. Afterwards we were inseparable. A weekend in Boston, some time in Philadelphia, down to Jacksonville for several visits, Cancun for New Years and so much city hopping. Ben came to celebrate my Match Day where we found out I would be living in Pennsylvania, we were relieved by the results. He drove the U-haul truck, packed with my things from Florida to Pennsylvania. I found a fun apartment near my hospital and we decided to continue the lease in Philadelphia so we would be able to enjoy both big and small cities; with sporting events, concerts, and of course FOOD.