It all started back in high school during a band competition in Prattville. I was making my way to get off the bus when this random girl that I didn’t really know much about stepped in front of me. We stood there for a second, and then I suddenly realized this pretty girl blocking my path was hitting on me. She was joking around and refusing to let me pass. That’s right folks, Sydney made the first move! I did not get to see her the rest of the day but I decided when we got back from the competition that I would attempt to go talk to her. Luckily for me, because you all know how shy I am, it was her birthday the following week. This gave me an excuse to say something to her without being extremely awkward. So, October 17th came and I worked up my courage to say happy birthday... and that is all I managed to say. I could tell she was digging me though. The next weekend, I was with friends getting some dinner. One of them knew Sydney pretty well and was able to help me out with getting her phone number. So, I texted her and we planned a date. Our first date, we met down at the bay near our houses. We went for a walk along the shoreline. Of course, I was extremely nervous and afraid it would be awkward because we had never really had a conversation… but I performed perfectly. I didn’t shut up the entire time. Crazy right? The best part about our first date though was when I made the smoothest move ever. We had to step up over a pier or something and I grabbed her hand to help her up and then just didn’t let go. Just like that, we were holding hands. I thought I was a straight-up player. The date ended after walking for a couple of hours, and I discovered when her parents picked her up, they didn’t know this was a date. They thought she had just gone on a walk by herself. It was a little awkward.

Anyway, for about a week or two we continued to talk and hang out. Everything was going better than expected. The final twist that led to us officially dating was kind of an amusing one. We had been texting and she mentioned to me that people had continuously been asking if we were dating. Well I interpreted this wrong and took it to mean she wanted me to ask her out... like now. The thing is, we had only been talking for about a week and I thought I needed to give it more time. I decided I would consult my best friend about it. I wish I could remember word for word what he told me, but I know it was the best advice I had ever received. It was a football analogy and could not have been more perfect. It fit the situation so well and it still makes me laugh to this day. In short, it was something about going for the touchdown on third down instead of waiting and risking it all on fourth down. I don’t know how that sounds now, but at the time I thought it made so much sense. I decided I would go ahead and ask her out after the football game that Friday. The day came, the football game was won, and I chased after Sydney to ask her out before she left. She said yes! We have been together ever since, seven years and counting. I could not be more thankful to have found Sydney, and I feel so lucky to have been together this long. We are excited to spend the rest of our lives together, and we look forward to everyone helping us celebrate our wedding on June 26, 2020.