Our story is a story of fate. After departing from Muhlenberg College as good friends, Gina and I ventured into New York City to pursue our Masters's degrees. Three years go by and November 9, 2019 would be the day that changed my life forever. During my lunch break at work, I looked at my phone and saw several messages on Messenger from Gina Morrello. The messages caught me a little off guard, and quite frankly, made me a little suspicious. After reading her messages, Gina never lost her sweetness and kindness. In her messages, she was reaching out to say hello and that she bought a night stand from Malu, a grad school friend from NYU, on Facebook marketplace. I was shocked by this occurrence and continued the conversation with Gina, catching up on life. Towards the end of our conversation, she informed that she was having an apartment warming party in Stuytown on the Lower East Side, and I was invited. I freaked out and was unsure whether to accept the invitation. What was I potentially walking into? After having a mini panic attack, I called my older brother, Glen, and told him about my conversation with Gina, our history, and the party. I remember telling Glen, "Glen, I have not spoken nor interacted with this girl for three years and she invited me to this party. Should I go?" Glen, definitively replies, "Uh yeah!" I replied to Gina that I will be attending. The lone commute from Astoria to Stuytown brought chills and intense feelings of nervousness. As I knocked on Gina's apartment door, I was welcomed by Gina's bright smile and blue eyes, and gave her a nice big hug. Little did I know that I was not only reconnecting with Gina, but meeting her brother, Dan, cousins, Rachel, Andrew, Carolyn, and Rachel's husband, Ryan. Gina and I were making our way around the party, connecting with old college friends, and we finally got a chance to talk. We must have been talking for about an hour, having a couple drinks, and sharing laughs and smiles. As the party was coming to an end, I decided to go with Gina and her family to the Penny Farthing for a little nightcap. Gina and I were walking next to each other, talking, and I was in love. When we got to the bar, we bought each other tequila shots, and continued to smile and laugh. Before leaving the bar, I asked Gina if she would like to go out sometime and she said yes. After I left the bar, I must have texted Gina a few times making sure we are still on for a date. The very next week, Gina and I went out on our first date at Josie Woods in NYC. We were eating, drinking, and conversing for a couple hours, talking about our love for Frank Sinatra, our loud Italian families, the Yankees, favorite TV shows and movies, and what we want to accomplish in the future. Our first date continued to a local bar for a few more drinks and continued to talk about life. We continued to see other exclusively, going on dates, watching me play basketball, and walking along the Brooklyn bridge. She became the world to me. Over the next year, COVID-19 became an obstacle for Gina and I, but our love for one another was inseparable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my favorite memories encompass our virtual date nights, day trips to wineries, summer trips to Cape May, Long Beach Island, and Bradley Beach. Post pandemic, we continued to make incredible memories including vacation to Iceland, baseball games at Fenway Park and Camden Yards, getting our beautiful dog, Jeter, all the weekend trips to our families in Staten Island, Bradley Beach, and Roseland, winter trips to Florida, Billy Joel concert, and so much more. All of the laughs and smiles we shared with each other and our families will last a lifetime. On January 21, 2023, Gina and I got engaged in Spring Lake, NJ. I always think back to that party on November 9, and I am so glad I went to that party because I met the love of my life, my future wife, Gina. I love you sweetheart.

It was the day before my upcoming housewarming party, and my apartment was still not fully furnished. In a panic, I turned to Facebook Marketplace to find a nightstand so my lamp would no longer need to live on the floor. Thankfully a girl in my apartment community, Malu, came through. I walked to her place and we were making small talk. She shared that she was living in the city because she was doing an MPH at NYU. Immediately (and randomly) I thought of Alex. Just a few months prior I had seen his graduation photos on Facebook from that very same program. I had thought about reaching out to congratulate him but it had been so much time since college and I chickened out. I asked, “Do you happen to know Alex Morisano?” and she excitedly said yes! The moment was too serendipitous not to reach out. I grabbed my phone and sent the text that would change my life forever. Something to the effect of: hey it’s Gina from Muhlenberg! I just bought this nightstand from this girl you know. The next day, Alex responded. We were catching up and I finally worked up the courage to invite him to the housewarming. I thought for sure he would say no. To my surprise, he agreed. We spent the day exchanging messages. My family came to town and we went out for dinner before the party started. My cousins, Rachel and Carolyn, saw me checking my phone and smiling while we ate. “You’re excited to see this guy!” They were totally calling me out- but they weren’t wrong. The second I opened the door to welcome Alex in, I immediately had butterflies. We spent the night talking with old friends. I introduced him to my family and new people that had come into my life since Muhlenberg. When we left for the bar somehow it ended up being me, my brother, my cousins, and Alex. I still couldn’t tell if we were two friends catching up or if we were picking up each other's flirty vibes. We got up to the bar and he offered to buy me a drink and a tequila shot. Then it all became clear. By the end of the night Alex asked me on a date for the following weekend. We spent our first date at one of Alex’s favorite NYU bars. Even though we were friends in college there was so much I didn’t know. We talked about life in the city, our shared love for Frank Sinatra, memories from college, where life had taken us. I learned about how important Alex’s family was to him. I was floored when I learned his brothers’ names, Glen & James; the same as my mom’s brothers. I felt like the universe was sending me a sign. We went for a nightcap and never ran out of things to talk about. I remember feeling so safe and comfortable with Alex right away. His genuine heart and warmth hadn’t changed a bit. I called my mom the next day and told her all about our date. Half jokingly I said, “Mom, he is my husband.” She laughed but I knew. Over the last 4 years we’ve made so many amazing memories. We had fun date nights in the city. We left our whole world behind during the pandemic. We planned virtual dates for 3 months. We got to spend so much time with each other’s families when we both moved home for a year. This was a huge blessing. Getting to see Alex around the people he loves most was the most beautiful glance into how he became who he is today. We have had such a fun life together so far- from beach days in the summer, weekends in Cape May, our trip to Iceland, our first apartment, raising our puppy Jeter (Mr. Man), new jobs, building our life in Monmouth County, countless date nights, weddings, family gatherings. Life is better with Alex by my side as my partner. The day Alex proposed I was blown away. Every detail of the day was an indicator of how he truly understands me at my core. To have the support of our friends and family meant the world. I am so excited to start the next chapter of our lives and see all of our favorite people in the same room on June 22. I cannot wait to call Alex my husband and continue building our life together. I love you forever, bub.