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We walked the streets of Chestnut Hill on Memorial Day Weekend. The artsy stores and historic homes lining the streets called us inside. Conversation and comfort came easily. I found us holding hands after a short walk. He got a burger at the Iron Hill Brewery and impressed me with his knowledge of barley, hops, and the beer making process. Afterwards, we visited a gourmet vinegar, olive oil, and spice shop. He bought a bottle of Corine’s Cuisine- No. 5., a coriander- mint- coconut sauce blend for us try. In the days following we found that we really liked cooking together and compliment each other in the kitchen.

I attended a regional SCCE event at the Doubletree Hotel in Center City for work. While walking to the hotel, from Suburban Station, I got lost and had to ask for directions. Michael knew I was working nearby that day because we had talked about it and I texted him and asked him how far the Doubletree was from the Wawa on the corner. Later that morning he asked what I was doing for lunch and wanted to see if we could have lunch. Ordinarily, I would have been delighted but this event had a swanky catered lunch and only a few sponsors. It wouldn’t have gone unnoticed if I brought my boyfriend for halal cart take out at the sponsor table. We agreed to meet after the event. I texted that I was going to be earlier than expected. I felt lousy and needed to get home so I got a cab. Michael told me to have the driver let me out at Suburban at 16th and JFK. As I got out of the cab, all feverish and weary, I rolled a suitcase and shlepped the Delaware Law School pole sign. I first noticed Michael holding red and white roses. I thought it was sweet but suspected nothing. He had brought me flowers many times. He stated “this entrance doesn’t look as grand as I remembered it”. I looked over at the building facade under the construction but saw the Art Deco details and said “I don’t know, I think it still has quite a lot of charm.” When I turned back to him he had a diamond ring in his hand. He got down on one knee on the sidewalk and asked “Will you marry me?” I said “yes”. Flustered, I put out my right hand for him to put the ring on. I noticed his hand was shaky as he put it on the wrong hand. Once I realized, we switched it over. We agreed to go inside because it was really frigid outside. We took some selfies while waiting for the train. A guy playing the flute serenaded us with Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer followed by a snappy version of O’ Little Town of Bethlehem- we laughed that one would be our song.