Grace & Adam first met in the backseat of a friend’s car, on a road trip from Atlanta to a philosophy conference in Memphis. Adam said he studied aesthetics; Grace said she never understood people who studied aesthetics. As the weekend progressed, they talked about more than philosophy, sharing their hobbies and dreams for the future. They realized that they were more drawn to one another’s company than to the conference’s panels. On the long drive back to the airport, Adam played Studio Ghibli scores on the radio as the two sat in the electrified stillness, grateful for the weekend together but saddened that it was far too short. On the flight back to New York, Adam already missed Grace so much that he paid for WiFi, just to message her. They kept in touch through hours-long video calls between Atlanta and New York. Even though both had sworn to never date another philosopher, their friendship grew into deep love and care. They visited one another, sharing their favorite teahouses and parks, jazz shows and Broadway musicals. Their passions were contagious as they awakened one another’s worlds to new possibilities and fresh beauty, Grace crafting meals and watercolors for Adam as he took photographs and played the piano. (Her favorite was when he played "Almost Like Being in Love.") They were introduced to one another’s friends and families in Denver & L.A., San Francisco & Penang. They explored Chicago and drove through the Italian countryside and up Big Sur. In October 2020, the pandemic prevented Adam from giving Grace the seaside proposal he knew she’d love, so he brought the romantic scene to her. Amidst a torrential thunderstorm, hundreds of warm electric lights, and flowers that he fashioned in the hallway in front of her apartment, Adam asked Grace to be his life's partner, as instrumentalists played the Studio Ghibli music that played during their first weekend together. They are so excited to begin the next chapter of their lives with the people they love.