Marc hired Ereni to sing for a wedding gig on a recommendation, but we were both in relationships at the time. In the year after that first wedding gig, our friendship really developed backstage on gigs with the Losers Lounge at Joe's Pub in Manhattan. When the Covid quarantine began, we started facetiming and enjoying each other's company via phone. Our first date was a picnic in Hoboken in July of 2020. The sparks started flying right away!
The world was still deep in the Covid pandemic. There was talk of a vaccine in the news, but at that point, not many people had access to it and going out to a restaurant was not a priority for us. So, Marc planned a romantic dinner at home for our first Valentine's Day together. After dinner, Ereni gave Marc a gift first. She told him, "It's a little thing." He responded with, "Mine is too." When he opened her gift, he seemed preoccupied. Ereni wondered if he cared for the gift at all. Maybe it was the wrong size? Then, over bowls of banana pudding a friend had made us for the occasion, Marc started telling a beautiful story, in his charismatic and thoughtful way, regarding motherly advice about love and choosing a partner for life. Ereni slowly pulled the spoon of banana pudding from her mouth and began to listen intently. At the end of the story, Marc gently pushed a black velvet box towards Ereni. She was completely surprised. Through tears of joy, Marc managed to hear an answer: "Yes!"