We met... online! Joey messaged me with a silly quip, and boy, did I take the bait. We happily chatted and joked all day long, for two full weeks before meeting in person (WILD, I know, in the age of immediate gratification), and the conversation hasn't stopped since. Joey made me laugh right from the beginning, and my heart felt so at home with him. Our first date was at a restaurant in Brooklyn. Both of us were a bit nervous, feeling deep in our guts that we were about to meet someone Very Special. (I remember spotting Joey before I got out of my cab and thinking, ruh-roh... he's very cute... stakes are high...) We sat down and our waiter came over. He seemed a bit... off. Whenever we asked a question or ordered a drink or dish, he'd remark, flatly: "amazing." Lucky for us, this became the perfect ice-breaker! Joey and I spent the rest of the meal secretly doing impressions of him. We still reference this moment, and our accidental (OK) Cupid! By now, we've collected enough inside jokes to fill a book. Joey's gentle silliness is still one of my favorite things about him, though I've also grown to love and appreciate his easygoing nature, his patience (with me, our pets, the NYC subway system), his super smarts, his determination, and his generous heart. You guys: I have the biggest crush! I am so excited, and feel truly grateful, that I get to marry my best friend in the world.

There are many moments, of all different sizes, that continually reaffirm my love for Lauren. Whether it's an inside joke, a hug after a tough day, or sharing the same idea for ice cream flavors to make (melding our minds together), these moments form a very specific part of my brain that I call on often in hours when we are apart during the work week. One of my favorite moments was very early on, one of our first dates. We had just sat down on a bench outside an ice cream shop when a black and white Corgi puppy waddled by. My first instinct was to reach out and pet the little dummy (and maybe ask the owner for permission afterward), but I held back, not wanting to seem too eager and reveal my dark secret as the World's Greatest Dog Spotter/Petter. But Lauren could see in my eyes that I desperately wanted to say hello and it was at her insistence that we ran to the corner, hoping to catch the pup before it slipped back into the busy Lower East Side bustle. Luckily, the pup was in no mood for a long walk and we bridged the gap easily, both rubbing his head for good luck and securing a few photos to prove how cute he was. I think about this moment a lot. Lauren's willingness to humor me in my quest and also take part in it with as much enthusiasm was endearing and gave me a source of comfort. The same kind of security that a strong partner brings with them, the same kind of passion that you can reciprocate with. It's these moments that prove that I can love her even more than I already do and it's these moments I look forward to continuing to collect as we start our journey together. She is my all-time favorite person, my best friend, and her love is beyond description. She inspires me to pursue what makes me happy and is an amazing teammate. I am excited for her family to be my family (and vice versa) and for her to not be mad when she comes home and sees I've adopted 17 additional puppies.