After matching on Hinge, our first date was set in the middle of a local Malvern restaurant, Brick and Brew. I ordered bruschetta, and he ordered…Jambalaya pizza?! Instantly the conversation flowed, and we both felt like we were the only two people on earth. The topics spanned from the existence of free will to the importance of effective altruism to whether any food can be considered “breakfast.” It cannot. After closing down the restaurant, we both left that night (him, with his leftover Jambalaya Pizza, of course) knowing it wouldn’t be the last time we’d cross paths.

After countless date nights of shutting down restaurants because of our never-ending babbling, we continued to spend time together on the balcony of my apartment. I made charcuterie boards for him, even though he always brought a Wawa hoagie instead. I learned about his “cheese routine,” and he learned all about my insane sugar addiction. I was still in grad school that summer, so we would spend countless weekend hours at various Starbucks- me working, and him reading, of course.

After a few months of spending time together, we quickly sensed that there was magic afoot. I described it as progressively being able to visualize more and more letters of that one, special four letter word. After a romantic weekend away stargazing at Cherry Hill State Park, I was ready to express myself to Grant. Yes, I said it first, and honestly, the moment was perfect as it was. At that moment we knew that this was a forever thing.

At this point, we had been together for a little bit and working at developing our respective careers. Grant, had recently been promoted at his company, being such a wonderkindt and all, and I was working my way towards my BCBA. Mid January came, and it had come time to take a board certification exam that would dictate my ability to practice as a behavior analyst. The week before, I was a nervous wreck! Grant stood by my side, and reassured me the whole way through. I passed! To celebrate we went to the Melting Pot that night, and realized we were officially a #powercouple

It was our second summer together, but our first time cohabitating. Throughout the first year we would split the nights into “Grant’s,” “Domi’s,” or “Rosie nights,” for when either one was too tired to drive. We both knew “living together” was a huge milestone that often times tests relationship longevity, but, from the beginning our moving in together was seamless. It was as if we were doing what we were meant to do all along- be together.

It was a day before Thanksgiving, and our sisters, Sofia, Abby, and a friend, Hannah, had arrived before the rest of our family came for Turkey Day. Everyone agreed that we should get all glammed up to go have lunch at The Four Dogs, a favorite local restaurant. I, on the other hand, wanted to show everyone our climbing gym first, and just go over in leggings. They were insistent on nixing climbing and dolling me up instead. Grant and I drove in his car, and the girls took my sister’s car. As we were driving, he said that we’re actually going to the Brandywine Park to “show my sister around.” It was then that I knew what was happening. The plan was that the girls would already be there hiding to take pictures by the time Grant walked around the area with me. When we had arrived, he got nervous that he didn’t see their car, and tried to hide it by starting a conversation about how amazing this bridge that we were walking over was. At the end of the path I spotted all 3 girls with their phones and heads popping out. “Oh shit,” Grant exclaimed, and he immediately began a beautiful soliloquy about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he knelt down and presented me with the most beautiful ring (I had picked it out a few months prior), and the rest of the day was one for fairytale books.