Castle Walls and Dancing Halls

Like all great modern love stories, ours began with a swipe. Neither of us were looking for anything serious on Tinder, but somehow, just through chatting, we knew the other was special. Jess’ casual mention of “correlation doesn’t mean causation” hooked Dave instantly, and Jess was equally impressed by how emotionally open Dave was—even on the very first date. From the start, small talk was never our thing. Our conversations were always deep, funny, and sprinkled with just the right amount of intellectual debate. But it was on Date #3 that things really clicked. Jess had just completed a “mindful spending” workshop and had a list of her core values saved in her phone (as one does). When she asked Dave about his top five values, not only did he have a well-thought-out list—our values matched *exactly*. Beyond that, we quickly realized we’re both extremely impatient—but in completely different ways. Dave likes to think through all the options before making a decision, while Jess has already made up her mind before the options are even presented. Thankfully, we balance each other out. We both focus on efficiency, whether it’s securing a table at Korean BBQ or planning a wedding, and while we always consider both perspectives… somehow, we always end up going with Jess’ plan. (Happy wife, happy life—right?) At the core of it all, our shared sense of humor keeps everything fun—whether we’re doing absolutely nothing or jet-setting to Bali. We appreciate each other’s twisted jokes and Jess’ macabre outlook on life, finding joy in the absurd, the ironic, and yes, occasionally, laughing at other people’s pain. Because in the end, life is just better when you’re with someone who gets your dark humor and makes even the most mundane moments feel like an inside joke.