Deanna – Edison Park. Likes painting, pottery, horror movies, and sushi. John – Park Ridge. Likes playing guitar, golfing, the Blackhawks, and sushi. 7 mutual friends. “They have to be real right…?” We didn’t have a storybook meeting – just two people who met online taking a chance on someone nearby for a nice sushi dinner. We were both very nervous – I went to the bathroom about 6 times; she talked my ear off (in a cute way, I swear!) – but also very comfortable. We talked childhood, families, values, and everything seemed to sync up. It was a Sunday night, so we called it early. Cue the awkward hug in the parking lot. The second date followed quickly and it was effortless. We picked up like old friends and didn’t look back. Fast forward 22 months from that awkward first date parking lot hug and I’m on one knee in a Savannah park, soaking wet from the rain, engagement ring in hand. From strangers meeting through a dating app to now hearing “You guys act like you’ve been married for decades!” I am often shocked we’ve only known each other for 2 years. A line Deanna uses all the time is "we always just missed each other" and she couldn’t be more right. We grew up 6 blocks away from each other, went to school with lots of the same people, and somehow never met. Every time we are out in public, she already knows the person I try to introduce her to. I sometimes feel like we grew up together without even knowing it. (I also sometimes think we are from different planets, but I digress.) We are always going to tease and bicker – it’s our nature – but there is such comfort in finding the co-author to your life story, knowing you are both starting on the same page. As Dee likes to sum up our relationship: “You’re the best thing I’ve found on the internet.” I couldn’t agree more. Here’s to a lifetime of loud family parties, teasing about pronunciations, minor league baseball games, religious debates, homemade pizza, cheesy comedy movies, and long walks on the beach. Thank you all for sharing this journey with us. We truly appreciate your love and support. Please enjoy yourselves and God Bless.