Like most couples nowadays, we met on a dating app. Our first date was to the Bluebonnet Swamp for the Halloween Hike. Charles thought she was awesome and Jessica thought he was the best guy she’d ever met after he quickly found an exit out of the reptile house. After we both returned from our trips out west, the second, third, fourth, and fifth dates quickly followed. Big life events arose with Jessica getting a new job in New Orleans and Charles being sent on projects for work in Missouri and Illinois. During the long distance, we traveled back and forth to see each other and met up in new cities. We had plenty of FaceTime dates, Netflix watch parties, and got pretty competitive about online UNO. Charles was transfered back home to New Orleans in early June and began making big plans. On a Thursday, he asked Jessica to go on a walk with his dog, Bayou, around Audobon Park to go bird watching - a new hobby he had gotten in to after seeing the eagles in Missouri. Charles, the rule breaker, brought Jessica, the rule follower, past the club house and the “do not pass” signs to a grove of trees where he pulled out a ring from his binocular case. Since it’s been one of the rainiest years New Orleans has ever seen, Charles got down on one knee in a mud puddle. As he was saying kind and sweet things, Jessica flicked and swatted away bees that were landing on his head. After saying yes, we walked a few blocks to where our families and close friends had gathered to celebrate.