People often ask, "How did you two meet?" to which Eric and Sarah routinely reply, "Well, which time?" In 1996, Eric and Sarah's older sister Gina entered Kindergarten at PS6. By second grade, they were schoolyard kickball rivals, and Eric worked diligently to perfect his athletic abilities by attending Big Apple Sports every day after school. A few years later, Sarah and Eric's younger sister Ronni were placed in the same 4th grade class and quickly became friends. After a handful of lemonade stands and afternoon playdates, Sarah and Ronni moved on to middle school, while Eric and Gina had already left their kickball days behind them. Fast forward to 2022, Sarah was still spending her afternoons in the PS6 schoolyard, though this time, the kids playing called her "Ms. D'Amico." On April 13th (65 years to the day after Eric's grandparents were married), Sarah was dismissing a student early from Big Apple (yes, the same afterschool program Eric attended 20+ years earlier). Eric was between an appointment and a work event when he decided to walk across 82nd Street in hopes of seeing his childhood coach in the schoolyard. Serendipitously, Sarah saw Eric walking down the block. "Who is that? I feel like I know him..." she thought. Suddenly, (part of) his name came to her. Sarah shouted Eric's last name through the gate. It's this point in the story where Eric's and Sarah's versions differ. Eric insists he instantly recognized Sarah, while Sarah recalls Eric staring at her blankly. Naturally, Sarah explained who she was, and Eric approached the gate. After some small talk, Sarah suggested they take a selfie, then agreed to walk Eric inside to visit Coach Luis and his elementary school. Hours later, Eric followed Sarah on Instagram, thanked her for the tour and casually asked her on a date. Sarah frantically called her mom and sister, asking if it was "okay to go out with that Eric Higger guy," to which they both gave the green light. Eric made a dinner reservation for May 2nd. Two years later on May 2nd, 2024, Eric enlisted 24 fourth graders, one 5 year old and a 2 year old to help him ask Sarah her favorite question yet. ♡