On 7/17/2020 we got married via webex with just our families and our officiants. We exchanged vows, scurried off to the National Mall for photos, and celebrated via Zoom with our families. It was an absolutely magical day.

After a whirlwind trip that brought us from Washington, D.C., up to New Haven, CT for a press conference, and then to New York City for a well-deserved annual New York vacation, I was almost too tired to go to the park where Izzy agreed to let me call her my "girlfriend" nearly two years before. But she made sure I went and made the entire night incredible. We sat down on the bench at nearly the same spot and she handed me two things: a greeting card with Ben's Chili Bowl (where we ended our first date) on the front, and a message inside. Then, she handed me an adorable little bag with a ring box inside. She then asked me if I would marry her - and with absolutely no hesitation *ahem* I said "yes" and we continued to have an amazing weekend in the city.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a planner. So I spent most of January planning Justin's birthday party. We scheduled a semi-private room at our favorite neighborhood bar, Smith Commons. I ordered a cake and balloons, and even a memory book. Justin and I got all dressed up and he asked before we left the apartment "how's your manicure?" and I answered unknowing of what was to come next. Justin told me early in the night he wanted to make a speech before we cut the cake so I got everyone's attention. He started giving this reflective speech and there were a couple of weird looks in the crowd so I'm thinking 'I'll interrupt soon.' He starts going on this rant thanking a bunch of people who made his 27th year great and he says "I'd like to thank the person who made this year the best one yet, my partner Izzy." and I'm blushing, still with no idea what is coming next. He goes down on one knee and asks me to marry him. I was so shocked, I literally said no. Everyone in the crowd, holding their breaths in hopes he didn't just make a huge mistake, I quickly said "Of course."

"Hey, do you want to go to New York this weekend?" That's all it took for me to hop on the bus with this woman I'd met a month before. We stayed in a horrible Air BnB, akin to a tenement apartment - but that was really just for sleeping. One of my favorite moments was the first time she stepped foot in Time Square, weary from travel, but with all the wonder in the world in her eyes. It was either then or when we went through Central Park, but at some point, I knew I wanted to ask this woman to be my girlfriend. And it's been amazing ever since.

We met online on one of those sites where the woman has to engage in conversation first so with every creative fiber in my being, I messaged Justin first with the very well thought out "Hey. What's up?" We went on our first date the following weekend, but only after Justin impressed me with his science march protest sign. I knew things would at least go well enough for a first date.