It was 2021, socializing had taken on a new form. We were still wearing masks and slowly reintegrating, using any excuse to leave the bounds of our once-established “pod.” We weren’t allowed to leave our tables at bars, definitely no dancing- it just wasn’t the same. If you were there, you get it. Anyway, on a night in July, Alex was cozied up at his parents’ house in Gaston, and Sam was planning his exit strategy. After some friendly peer pressure, Alex was headed back into Portland. They met for the first time at The Alibi- Alex with a Mai Tai in hand, Sam with a piña colada, surrounded by a lineup of unfortunate yet confident karaoke singers. They quickly realized they knew some of the same people and had likely been in the same places at the same time (later confirmed). As the night went on, Sam confessed she hated her drink, and Alex was ready to fix it. After playing Goldilocks at a few bars along the way, they settled on the Tulip Shop down the road. On his way to the bathroom, Alex stopped and told Sam, “I think you’re delightful,” leaving her flattered yet curious. Who says delightful? Over the summer, they spent their days driving out to the coast, shooting oysters, and meeting friends along the way. On September 5th, from his parents’ patio, with the sun as their witness, Alex expressed his desire to take their relationship to the next step. Now, five years later to the day, with many more witnesses, they will celebrate their love and lifelong commitment to each other. Delightful. Looking back, their first date was full of foreshadowing- Alex relaxing, Sam convincing him to get up; Sam ordering the wrong thing, Alex finding a way to fix it; Alex not staying anywhere until it felt right, Sam going along, inevitably leaving her wallet; Alex offering a kind of sweetness you thought was gone, and Sam intrigued by his nature. These themes still hold true today- only now, they’re carried with a sense of comfort and safety.