Like any modern couple, we found each other through an algorithm. Swiping through Tinder in September 2020, Ben came across Elysia’s profile. After thumbing through her pictures, he came across her Macho Man Randy Savage Halloween costume and immediately swiped right. We met in person a few days later at Shop Bar where Ben awkwardly knocked Elysia’s drink into her lap - there was Whiteclaw everywhere. But thankfully the waitress was nearby with a rag that she graciously offered for us to keep. Even after throwing a drink on her during the first date, Elysia decided to give him a chance.

April 10th, 2022 - We eased into the day with a relatively light agenda. Pancakes for breakfast & an episode of Better Call Saul before we did some yard work as it warmed up outside. After we finished the yard, Elysia cleaned up the inside of the house & I removed an expired hydrangea plant from the front of the house. Somehow she knew I was parched and brought me a Miller Lite without asking (I still think about that Miller Lite from time to time). Later, Elysia’s friend Wesley came over for a chat and to help give our dog Bailey a bath, while I left to meet up with Berto at the driving range. It was on the drive home from the driving range that I felt this overwhelming sense of contentment. I was driving on River Road reflecting on the morning with my arm out the window, sun beaming into the car, and a newly discovered song playing - it felt like I was in a dream that I didn’t want to wake from. In that moment, it felt as if everything resonated with perfect frequency. That was the moment when I decided I would ask Elysia to marry me after dinner that evening. When I got home, everything was in its place. The lawn was cut, the house was clean and the dog was bathed. Dinner was almost ready. We decided to eat on the back porch since it was still in the mid-60s & lovely outside. Truly a perfect spring day. I waited till we were seated and then I got up and went inside the house to grab salt & pepper. But I also grabbed my mother’s engagement ring from my desk drawer and put it in my pocket. It was the same engagement ring that my dad gave to my mom when he asked her to marry him. Once we finished eating, I told Elysia that I was “going to ask her something that no one has ever asked her before” - she looked a little bewildered. I reached into my pocket and got down on one knee and asked her to marry me :) Thankfully she said yes and by some kind of magic, the ring fit. I told her I wanted to memorialize the day; that I wanted those types of Sundays forever with her & she agreed. We capped off the perfect day by taking Bailey for a walk to Dairy Kastle for ice cream.