It was a pretty typical morning in the Chicago Sun-Times newsroom. I was hard at work, producing my stories for the day, when a co-worker nudged me that an announcement was being made. I pulled out my headphones to hear that Jack Cassidy from Peoria, Illinois was joining the team as a digital editor. A "welcome" Dunkin' spread was put out in front of his desk as incentive for us all to go introduce ourselves. I of course, can't turn down a glazed donut, so I popped over to say hello.

We were about five weeks into quarantine when Jack couldn't take it any longer. His plan to propose had been brewing since November. He had intended for both of our parents to be in town over Easter weekend to ask, but that had been foiled. Every park, city and state, was closed. No restaurants could legally welcome guests. So on Sunday, April 19, Jack decided to go for it on our porch. Followed up by a Zoom call with both of our parents.