We're getting married!

Claryssa: I decided to try dating again the Summer of 2023 and I didn't have high hopes. But I'm a romantic and I knew my person was out there. Now it took a full 6 months to find someone I was excited about meeting, but I was fine with waiting. Paola: After all life had thrown my way for the last couple of years, I was starting to feel a lot better about opening up to that special someone. I'd seen this girl 'Claryssa' back in the Summer on the apps.. I mean, how can I forget that beautiful face! Now with Winter starting, the holidays around the corner and reflecting on what was important in life, it was the time to finally let her know I was interested and for the most part.... ready. Claryssa: Okay, I had no idea that I had been "seen" before in the Summer. One because I'm kind of oblivious but Two because it struck me as thoughtful and considerate to wait until you were "ready" to pursue me. I kind of like that our love story started even before I had a clue. Paola: "Which night did you go and who did you go with?! I went on Friday night!"... this was my opening line to her profile picture in front of the U.S Bank Stadium wearing a very cute and sexy Taylor Swift inspired outfit for her concert. Little did I know that I had struck gold with that question :) She engaged with me that same day! Claryssa: Mention Taylor Swift and I'm hooked! Yes, it was the perfect opener and from there the conversation just flowed. We talked about our past relationships, to Paola's kids and their distinctive personalities, my love of horror movies, and how I was still feeling insecure about never introducing my parents to a girlfriend (I came out officially as gay in 2020). After having to cancel our first date the day after my second annual "A Very Clary Christmas" birthday bar crawl, because I was feeling a little under-the-weather ;) we made plans to meet at Colita in South-West Minneapolis on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Paola: I remember being seated first. I knew Claryssa was on her way but was running a little behind. I sat for what may have been 7 minutes which felt like the slowest 7 minutes of my life! I was facing the front door and I finally saw her come into the restaurant. I waved at her and gave her a big smile. The tables were so tight at the restaurant that I wasn't able to get up to at least give her a welcoming hug. We had talked about so many things prior to meeting that it felt natural to be with her yet she was VERY serious haha! She took her jacket off and sat down, and she apologized for being late. I came to find out she was very stressed about being late but little did she know that I'm 100% okay with running on Latin time! Claryssa: I rushed in from the cold and threw my jacket and purse down and prepared myself for maybe the last first date of my life. The night flew by with talking, drinks, the Christmas-themed temporary tattoos from my birthday party that I saved for her kids, and our first kiss. It was the perfect end to the most perfect first date. From there, its been a whirlwind of amazing moments. All of the time spent together as a family with Mateo, Leandro, and Lucia and experiencing the ways that I've become a step-mom but everything felt so natural. Paola: That night, I had met the person that would bring me peace and would love me as I was. Prior to meeting her, I had given up all hope and I had told her that I didn't believe in soulmates... little did I know that life would prove me wrong. Claryssa: I said "Of course, its so crazy to think about finding your one person in the whole entire world!". But in that moment I connected the dots. Paola came from Colombia to Florida to Minnesota. I came from Germany to Texas to Minnesota. Of all places, how did we end up in Minnesota!? But we did and we found each other! I gave her a necklace for our 3-month anniversary that I had engraved on the back, "It will be great, you'll see" because I knew in my heart that things were going to work out for us.