Some say it was Facebook, at the tail end of high school, circa 2011. A time when starry-eyed seniors rapidly added their cohort of New Paltz freshmen to their Friends list. Some say it was New Paltz orientation, in the Gage Hall common room playing ice breaker games. Others insist it was seven years later, in November 2018, when Peter crashed Maria’s roommate’s birthday party at a fancy wine bar. The truth lies somewhere in-between, a series of encounters (including a Summer ‘16 Bumble swipe), before either party was “fully baked.” Lore became reality in February 2019, when the two met for their first date on the Upper East Side: sausage at Schaller & Weber; not-first-date-appropriate photography at the Guggenheim; and one too many “Bees Knees” at the Milton. Maria wore three jackets. Peter almost got conned into a $300 Uber home. The rest is history

2019: A love affair with New Jersey transit. Friday nights at Wegmen’s. Lots of festivals: Shaky Knees in Atlanta (the worst Beck performance ever) and Warped Tour in AC (it’s not a phase). Camping in the Catskills. 2020: Road trips to Boston, Vermont, Saratoga, Sleepy Hollow, and Montauk. Emo karaoke before the world ends. Maria accidentally moves to Jersey. The dawn of Sad Boi Brewing Co. Lots of hikes and hammock time at the Delaware Water Gap. Nightly boardwalk strolls. The Great Pumpkin Blaze! Maria and Peter fry and eat an entire box of pasta chips in one sitting. Maria meets the Big Duck. 2021: Maria and Peter move to Maine and explore New England. Road trips to Rhode Island, Manchester by the Sea, and Salem. Maria learns pottery. Peter joins a soccer team. Maria and Peter go to their first concerts in 18 months. Maria and Peter spend too many nights watching music videos until 5am. 2022: Maria and Peter survive their first Maine winter. Maria and Peter fly together, traveling to Tucson; Florida; Lake Arrowhead; Santa Barbara; Ventura; and San Diego. Maria and Peter gain a nephew. Peter becomes a godfather. Maria and Peter get engaged.