Almost five years ago, we first met on Zoosk, the dating app. I guess you could say it was an instant connection at “first swipe.” Ian was the first guy I met via an online dating app, and we hit it off! I just remember thinking how CUTE he looked in his profile picture, and when we spoke on the phone, I loved the sound of his voice. He was so easy to talk with, and his tone and demeanor put me at ease. We texted for the next few weeks and had a few conversations on the phone. On December 27, 2018, while texting with each other, I suggested we do something crazy like meeting for coffee. This was a big step for me, and suggesting this took so much courage. To my surprise, he immediately agreed. Since he lived in Fort Lee and I lived in the Princeton area, we decided to meet halfway at the Menlo Park Diner on Route 1 in Edison. We met up around 10:00 PM that night, and we must have talked for more than two hours! We had this instant connection like we were meant to be. At the end of the evening, I was so nervous when he tried to kiss me, but he settled for a good night kiss on the cheek. As a recent widow, I was new to this online dating scene and was not ready to get into a full-blown relationship, and to add more reasons not to date him, Ian lived over an hour away! So, after that wonderful evening of chatting and getting to know each other, we decided it was best to stay friends. But I remember telling him after that evening, "Ya know, Goldstein...I don't know what will happen between you and me, but we'll always be friends." During the months and years that followed, Ian and I would text frequently to check in and would spend many nights talking on the phone late into the night until I couldn’t keep my eyes opened any longer. We then started to get together for movies, dinner or just to hang out. We became best friends always willing to give each other dating advice, but in the back of my mind, there was always this thought nudging at me… “He checks all my required boxes…why not DATE Ian? And my answer would always be the same…” he’s my best friend and dating him would jeopardize this special relationship we have developed, so “No!” Rarely did we go more than a day or two without communicating. Then COVID struck, and when this did, Ian and I took our communication to the next level. We began video chatting. During this time, Ian and I only saw each other, yet we remained in the friend zone, and I looked forward to our daily video chats. On November 30, 2020, Ian made it official and asked me to be is girlfriend! He then asked me to go to Florida with him to meet his parents and sister and family. Since then we have spent a lot of time together, traveling all over, enjoying each other’s company, and growing closer with each passing day until one unforgettable day on January 12th, 2022. Ian called me at work that morning and sounded miffed over a small disagreement the night before. This was such odd behavior for him because we never argue. Later that day, he texted me those four little words most people dread, “We need to talk.” I panicked when I received this text! Was everything okay? Did he want to break up with me? But why? I didn’t see this coming; we had been getting along great! Hesitantly, I FaceTimed him back. Ian looked very serious as he spoke telling me that it was the right thing to do to let me know how he was feeling. As my tears welled up, Ian blurted out, “I love you,” and then signed off FaceTime. He left me dumbfounded as I tried to process what had just happened. After composing myself, I texted him back those special words, “I love you, too.” Subsequently, we renovated his apartment. He even put in a washer and dryer, as that was one of my requirements, and I moved in with Ian on August 17, 2022. On April 2, 2023, Ian asked me to marry him…and without hesitation, I happily said, “Yes.” On June 25th, 2023, I will be marrying my best friend and soulmate; I couldn’t be happier!