See you in Milwaukee!

There was no "meet cute." You know, that moment in the movies where the protagonists recall locking eyes for the first time and it being love at first sight. We both can't recall the first time we met each other, or introduced ourselves. But there was in fact another real meet cute, which is essential to the Deutch-Habush Sinykin love affair. And it started back in 1985 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On Jill's first day getting settled into her dorm, there was a knock on her door. And it was none other than another freshman, Jodi. They both had mutual friends who set them up to meet, and they were inseparable ever since. From being roommates, bridesmaids, and celebrating all the simchas with each other's families, Jill and Jodi's meet-cute was the start of something MUCH BIGGER than those 18-year-old besties could have ever thought. Fast forward to 2012. Cole was in Milwaukee for Ellee's brother, Zach's bar mitzvah. Ellee noted Cole looked older and had gotten cute. Fast forward to 2014. The Deutches and Sinykins meet up in Florida at a Mexican restaurant during winter break. Cole is glued to football on TVs. Less cute. Fast forward to 2015. Cole tours University of Texas. They play pool against one another with Cole's camp friend (shoutout Noah). One wins and the other has to jump in the pool. Will not confirm nor deny who this was. But result = major crush. Ellee was worried Cole would choose to go to Michigan. Not only because that's where his parents went, but also it was hinted that he'd always wanted to go there considering his bar mitzvah theme, which she attended, was legitimately Michigan-themed. But as fate has it, Texas (or Ellee?) was calling his name. But all through college they were just friends. Loved texting. Loved talking. Had so much in common. But nothing more. (Unless you consider Cole's many Facetimes to Ellee playing his guitar as anything other than hot.) Cole remembers being so nervous coming to Ellee's 21st birthday party. He wanted to impress her (and her friends) and for them to think he was cool. Israel 2018 was the summer where feelings started to grow. Being in both their favorite place in the world, Tel Aviv, they went from friends to best friends. Meeting at Gordon Beach, playing frisbee, buying a ukulele together, singing, and dancing, and exploring the city with a great group of friends. Cole and Ellee spent all of college as close friends, with some flirts, maybe a kiss or two, along the way. But always friends. Then Cole got Ziggy, which changed EVERYTHING. The little Cavapoo stole everyone's hearts. Cole immediately asked Ellee to be the godmother. And Ellee became Ziggy's dogsitter. To this day, Ziggy thinks he set the two of them up! (Don't tell him otherwise!) After Cole graduated, he moved a few blocks away from Ellee. Ziggy, Ellee, and Cole would play a lot of disc golf. Go on a lot of walks. And a lot of pitch and putt. The more time they spent, the harder it was to not be together. One UT football game, Cole was in a box (I know, flex) and met a young married couple in their 30s. He got to talking to the wife. And she shared her love story. She also started as her husband's best friend. Cole had questions. How do you know when to make the move from friends to more? She said that marriage is full of romance and love, but it's also a lot of sitting on the couch with your best friend and feeling your absolute self. The next day, Cole took Ellee on a walk and shared the way he felt around her and that he could see the two of them working out in a more serious, romantic way. Ellee had a date that night with someone else. She faked a flu, cancelled the date, and Cole and Ellee played Catan and had a wine night instead. The rest was history.