We met at a Halloween party in 2018 at Tomi’s apartment… and then promptly did not speak to each other for the next year. After a few chance run-ins and many mutual friends across the tennis and volleyball teams, we finally started talking—and the rest, as they say, is history. Three months into dating in early 2020, COVID hit. With tennis and volleyball suddenly on pause, Tomi tagged along on what we thought would be a quick, two-week trip to San Diego. That “short getaway” turned into a 3.5-month stay with my family. A bold move. Some might call it trial by fire, but it worked out pretty well—Tomi passed the family test, and we spent the spring hiding out in sunny San Diego. By the end of the year, we switched hometowns. I made my way to Budapest, somehow securing a business visa, and even a letter from Parliament (thanks Gabi and Peter) to travel during COVID (don’t worry it was towards the end of the pandemic and I quarantined for 2 days). My stay was shorter, two weeks instead of 3.5 months, but just as memorable. I got to know the Zadors, explored Budapest without tourists, and experienced the city in a way few people ever do. Over the last five years, we’ve packed in a lot of life together. We’ve cheered each other on—then eventually off—the court, survived Tomi’s attempts to teach me how to ski in Austria, logged countless trips between San Diego and Budapest, and adopted the sweetest cat ever, Miso. Through it all, we’ve grown together in every sense. Tomi proposed on March 15 at Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California—and somehow managed to completely surprise me. I was on a solo California/Tahoe trip when Tomi casually booked a flight two weeks beforehand to join me for the second half. With some expert help from Soleil, I was convinced we were just doing a cute post-lunch photoshoot overlooking the water… until I turned around and saw Tomi down on one knee. I didn’t even let him finish before saying (or screaming?) yes. Now, six years in, we live together in River North with Miso, still loving life in Chicago. Yes, even with the weather (and no, we’re not moving… for now).