We're Getting Married!

We met at a bar in Harlem NY over eight years ago. I was waiting on my date to arrive when Richard and his friends came in. An hour had passed and my date was a no show, but I decided to stay and have a good time anyway. Somehow I got into a conversation with Rich about music and by the end of the night Rich and I exchanged Facebook information. The rest is history! That night we were perfect strangers, now we are a perfect pair.

In January 2012, I met the woman that would forever change the course of my life. I didn't plan on going to that Harlem bar that night; I had every intention of going home, but a friend changed my mind. Little did I know that one conversation about hip-hop and future aspirations would lay the framework for the life we live now. I am forever thankful to have met Brandi and to know that she will be my soon-to-be wife is an amazing journey that I am forever grateful for.

Just like our meet-cute at the bar back in 2012, our proposal was also random. Even though Rich planned the proposal, it didn't go as planned. He originally wanted to take me to a dope Italian spot in the city and pop the question after our bellies were full from pasta and wine; however, we didn't realize the restaurants in that area closed early on Wednesday night. As he was searching for a plan b it began to downpour rain and Rich pulled over to Google local restaurants. It seemed everything closed by 11pm in the city that never sleeps, and our only option was a recommended diner in the neighborhood. Since I had no clue about the proposal, a diner was an amazing alternative. We ordered chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, fries and shakes! It was delicious! On our way back to the car we started talking about our future and how excited we were to move into our new apartment that upcoming winter. The rest is kind of a blur, but I remember that Rich stopped me from crossing the street and pulled me back to him as he spoke seriously about our future while looking me in the eyes. I was listening but when I saw him bend down on one knee, it still didn't register that he was asking me to marry him. All I could think about was that his knee was getting soaked from the wet ground, but then in an instant I processed that the love of my life was asking me to marry him. I was so happy, he was relieved and we both cried tears of joy outside, in the rain and alone in the streets of NYC. It was magical, it was totally us. ~The Bodega's