Jason and Colleen did NOT have their first date, in fact, it was October 7, the night before they traveled to CT for a mutual friend's wedding. Their first date was at an UNO Pizzeria in Hamilton, NJ (Jason's hometown)! Appetizers were shared as a sign of sharing memories to come. Since there is no photographic evidence of this literal breaking of bread, the picture from the first of many weddings the following day on October 8 is preserved in time.

Colleen met Jason's family for the first time while celebrating his godson James' 2nd birthday. In the shadow of a large, costumed Daniel Tiger to entertain James, Colleen shared her life with Jason's family, and his stepfather, Carmen, in return shared many anecdotes about the myth and legend of his stepson...including the legendary Thanksgiving where Jason consumed SIX pieces of pumpkin pie in one sitting. Colleen was amused; Jason wasn't.

Jason and Colleen traveled to Akron, OH to meet Colleen's parents, Nick and Eileen for the first time. Jason felt an immediate kinship with Nick and Eileen over a mutual love of rock music and art. They visited The Christmas Story house, Great Lakes Brewing, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Turns out the exhaustive drive across PA was worth the trip.

Colleen and Jason took their first trip abroad to the United Kingdom. Their visit coincided with the resignation of then British Prime Minster Teresa May, who must've been aware that they were coming to visit and decided to just give up. They visited many of London's noted landmarks, while Jason quietly let locals know that Americans had left England for a reason. The trip concluded with a three-day visit to Edinburgh, Scotland and a mad dash back to Heathrow Airport for a flight they almost didn't make.

Cohabitation had been part of the conversation for a lot of 2019, but Colleen and Jason finally took the leap and moved into a 750-square-foot post-WWII apartment building in Astoria that could probably have survived a nuclear blast. Highlights from their two-year residency include a lockdown, a sweltering apartment one May because their building had boiler-controlled heat, and burning more calories going up and down a fourth-floor walkup than any treadmill could claim to achieve. They moved into a slightly smaller apartment in the summer of 2021, but now have a balcony, dishwasher, and laundry in building! Then not a lot of stuff of significance happened, besides good times and good vibes, until...

A much-needed vacation out to the West Coast ended up being more than just a getaway - it became a destination of importance. With the assistance of his college roommate Steve, Jason proposed to Colleen on the beach in Santa Monica, much to her shock and delight! The three celebrated the engagement over drinks and dinner at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Santa Monica, but the celebration was far from over, and so was the journey...