Elizabeth and I first met during the 2013 Stanley Cup finals, game 5, Boston Bruins playing at the Chicago Blackhawks. My entire family was in town and we were at a Boston bar that was packed wall to wall with black and gold. Even with my home team playing on the biggest stage, it was impossible not to notice her. She had a perfect smile and an infectious personality. To take a page out of Cal Weaver’s book – the perfect combination of sexy and cute. I departed Chicago after an unfortunate Bruins loss heading home to New York City. But, I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I would see her again. I was conveniently back in Chicago for Lollapalooza Music Festival sometime later. We spent the entire weekend together and I knew that was only the beginning. A month after Lolla, we met in Miami for Kate’s birthday and shortly after that we started spending a few weekends a month together in each other’s city. After millions of Southwest frequent flier points spent, and far too much time wasted trying to figure out when is the best time to land at LaGuardia (Answer: never) – we decided all this commuting needed to end. 1,082 days after seeing her walk into that Chicago bar I was on a flight to Chicago, for good.

Dave and I first crossed paths at no other place than a Boston bar in Chicago. Dave and his family were in town visiting his brother, Danny. Danny and I had worked together for just over a year at CICS-Northtown Academy, teaching high school science for Teach for America. Danny had been nice enough to invite me to the bar with his family. Crowded and sweaty, there was little interaction between Dave and I as Dave's eyes were plastered to the TV. At the next bar, Dave bought my friend and I a drink as we chatted away. My initial instinct that this man was not only ridiculously good looking (and with better hair than myself), but also had impeccable charisma. Almost a year later, I received a note from Dave on Facebook informing me that he was planning to come visit Danny for Lollapalooza weekend. A year? Seriously, too long, but I was more than ecstatic. Without hesitation, I boldly sent him my number and told him to text me. Dave's Lolla weekend trip was phenomenal and it secured my interest in seeing where things could go. However, after spending three days together, he referenced another couple doing long distance and stated that the notion was "preposterous". Quite surprised, two weeks later, I received a call from Dave asking if I wanted to come to his sister, Katie's, 30th in Miami. Quite the second date, yet, two years and over 500,000 airline points later ("borrowed" from my father), I was in a whirlwind "preposterous" romance. In June 2016, Dave made the sacrifice and relocated to Chicago. So there you have it. I am certain Dave sees this as another instance where Boston sports gave him a great story, but I think this time, we should let your brother take the W!