On February 22, 2020, it was a sunny and warmish day in Cleveland. After planning a “meet up with some friends”, really an excuse to be dressed and outside on a February afternoon, Matt and Shannon left the warm confines of their apartment in Lakewood for the city next door. After grabbing a coffee from their favorite local spot, Blackbird Bakery (which is close to St. Christopher if anyone needs one), Shannon and Matt went to the spot of their first date. Never one to bury her opinion, Shannon remarked “you know, today would be a perfect day to propose” halfway down the pathway to that local beach. Unfortunately, this comment was said about 75 yards away from the spot where Matt intended to get down on one knee. Being clever, Matt quickly responded, “yeah … I suppose it would have been” while time slowed to a crawl. It was a long walk with Matt desperately trying to both avoid giving away the surprise while also not trying to disappoint Shannon by not proposing on a beautiful day … right before proposing on a beautiful day. Setting down their jackets on benches nearby, Matt tried to nudge Shannon the final ten yards before giving up and laying it on the line: “You know I’ve told you some lies lately. The day I said I got a burger and a beer with my Dad, it wasn’t with my Dad - it was with yours. The day I said I came home from work because of food poisoning, I wasn’t sick – I was buying a diamond. And the reason we came out today, it wasn’t to see our friends - it was to ask you to marry me. Shannon – will you marry me?”