We had a date scheduled for Friday, but around 2pm on a Monday, Julia asked if I wanted to get ice cream. How could I resist? Not only did Julia arrive early, but she was beautiful and lost in a book. I was so stunned, I forgot to introduce myself. But it didn’t matter. We hit it off, and on our “official first date” (scholars continue to debate the terminology) that Friday, I knew this was for real.

Planning a surprise proposal in the middle of a pandemic was simple. First, I organized a weekend getaway to Portsmouth, NH, advising Julia to bring a nice dress. Nothing suspicious so far. Next, I took Julia on a romantic sunset walk by the water. She had no idea what was coming. Despite the pleasant 75-degree weather, I brought a jacket wrapped in the shape of a small box. Okay, it’s possible Julia suspected something. But when the moment came, I asked her to marry me, she said yes, and I couldn’t be happier to be with the love of my life.