Matt and I met on a dating app in the spring of 2021 just as the winter and COVID restrictions were starting to thaw. Our first date was at a bar in East Village on the back patio on a brisk April night. Those who were in New York may remember how cold it was that year. We chatted and chatted about our childhoods, our dreams and fears and the everyday hardly stopping for a breath. I was immediately struck by Matt's qualities that still captivate me today- his honesty, his curiosity, and his passion for the people, music, and causes that he cares about. I also thought he was very cute. I was having such a great time that I accidentally had three martinis. At which point Matt wisely suggested we head out for a walk. We ended up in Thompson Square Park where a man was playing Lou Reed on the guitar and a motley crew had gathered around on the benches to listen. Given the martinis, I convinced Matt to slow dance to the guitar and some of the eclectic crew joined in. Three weeks after that Matt showed up on my doorstep with flowers and asked me to be his girlfriend and we have been dancing ever since.

I knew I wanted to marry Keaton when I first arrived in London after having been separated for a month and we finally reunited. Coming back to her felt like coming home and I knew she was the one. Keaton is the most incredible person I know. She loves fearlessly, thinks beautifully, and cares deeply. Come spring of 2025 we both knew we were ready and started ring-shopping together. Upcoming trips from both of our parents narrowed the ideal engagement time to the first weekend of June. Wanting to maintain some semblance of a surprise, I started building a detailed web of lies full of decoy plans, real plans, and friend activities to throw her off the trail. Thinking she was going out to dinner with some friends who had made a reservation for 4, I brought her to the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park in some quintessential London rain. I proposed, she said yes, she spontaneously counter proposed, I said yes, and we shared a lovely, romantic dinner together, which we were originally planning on going to with our friends graciously absent. Stopping for a pint at our local pub on the way home, all of our London friends surprised her once more to complete the evening.