It's All Happening

"Meh." That was the first word - the English language's most indifferent - exchanged between Michael W. Hadge and Amanda L. Quigley in late June 2020 on the dating application Hinge. Somehow soon after, the two planned on a Covid friendly FaceTime fireworks date on July 4th. Little did Michael know that Amanda was, in fact, 3000 miles away with no LA return date set. However, the two continued to communicate via all digital means as the summer of 2020 unfolded, always a little suspicious that the other was a catfishing 75 year old sheet metal worker named Deborah. It was mid-September, 2020 that the two finally came face to face and confirmed what they always suspected - that catfish or not, they were meant for each other. Two years, a dog and a townhouse later, Mike was recruited for a gameshow and obviously chose Amanda as his in-game "partner". The gameshow, which you've never heard of, was called Tug of Words. During the interview process, Mike knew that if he told the producers his prize money would be spent on an engagement ring, that would guarantee them a spot - hey, that's just good TV. Sure enough, the gambit worked. A month later, Mike and Amanda were on Tug of Words, with Mike telling the host his engagement plan if they won. They did not win. (Or DID they?) Regardless, Mike had a plan involving a family stone, a smuggled wine bottle, and a planned trip to Barbados. On March 6, 2023, on that particular Caribbean island, under the brightest moon to ever hang, Mike popped the question. Amanda's response should not be printed. But the gist was "yes." And that's where you come in, dear reader...