We are getting married!

It was a brisk day in late December, just before Christmas, as I crested the escalator at Rockville Metro Station, when I saw her for the first time. I was instantly struck by her beauty and knew I was in trouble: how could a woman so perfect be waiting for me!? Being the consummate gentleman, I swallowed my nerves and introduced myself, and we shared a quick hug. In that moment, I knew this could be more, but my guard was up, and I wanted to see where things would go. As we traveled down the Red Line toward our destination, we talked and laughed and got to know each other. We were headed for a full and exciting day. Our first stop was the Hirshhorn, followed by the National Gallery of Art, ice skating under the Christmas tree at the Ellipse, and capped off with a lovely dinner at my one-time favorite sushi spot, Momiji, in Chinatown. I had planned everything out, hoping to make a good impression, but I never would have guessed the impression Desire would make on me. Throughout the date, my nerves melted into a new confidence, and dare I say, infatuation. This woman, who came into my life from a far-off land and whom I had met only hours before, felt like home. Despite a language barrier, our conversations flowed like the mighty Potomac, and her eyes held mysteries I wanted to uncover. By the time dinner ended, I knew a second date was on the horizon, and I knew that I must pursue this woman in earnest. My mind did not fail me that day, and I decided a grand gesture was in order. I decided to talk to Desire on a walk to the statue of Simón Bolívar, the liberator and founding father of Venezuela and much of South America, and we shared our first kiss. From then on, I was hooked. I knew I had found something real and hoped only to hang on to that feeling. Two short weeks later, at a New Year’s party, we made it official. The rest, as they say, is history…