‘Tis the Season to be Merried!

On one slow Saturday shift, Rachel's coworkers had all been asking when she would "get on those dating apps?” Her coworker, Rose mentioned that she knew someone who might be a great match. They hadn’t spoken in a while, so she wasn't sure if he was still in the area or single. Rachel knew Rose had the best heart and personality, so she couldn't doubt her matchmaking abilities. Rose showed Rachel his Instagram profile and was immediately charmed by his warm smile and loved that he came from a family full of sisters. It turns out that Rose and Joe had met at an airport bar during a layover and exchanged numbers two years prior. Joe had not heard from Rose since they met and was away for his birthday weekend when he received a text from her asking if he was still in the area and interested in going on a date with a "sweet nurse who lived in D.C." Joe immediately agreed and said he would reach out to Rachel. Rachel's coworkers were invested in planning this “potential date” and curated photos for Rose to send to Joe from Rachel's stolen phone. By this point, all of her patients were invested in the blind date, and it became the talk of the unit! After a few nervous texts, the date was planned. They met on the rooftop of Roofers Union for happy hour; conversation flowed easily, even amid the awkwardness of a covid date in 2020. Two days later, they went on their second date at Topgolf. (This was a true test of Rachel's lack of athletic ability, which Joe calls “raw athleticism.”) She was wooed by Joe's patience and encouragement, and he was more than happy to “subtly” showcase his skills as a PGA Professional. As things progressed, they were excited to introduce each other to their families in December 2020. It seemed only fitting for the two of them to have it planned in back-to-back weekends which they called "Hometowns Week." The dates themselves would put the Bachelor/Bachelorette series to shame, from a night of Longwood Gardens Christmas displays and a cozy fire-lit tavern dinner to Christmas shopping and exploring the charming town of Culpeper with hot beverages in hand. It turned out to be more of their own “Hallmark Christmas”. The Proposal: August 12, 2022 It was the first day in weeks that the D.C. weather was not oppressively humid, and Rachel and Joe wanted to enjoy time outside. Joe came over and mentioned that his friend Trey happened to be coming through the city and thought they could meet up for happy hour. Rachel was so excited to meet Trey, but it turned out he was never coming. After some drinks on the Georgetown waterfront, they got up and decided to go for a walk along the same route they had taken on one of their first few dates. Rachel was obliviously admiring the "Below Deck" yacht and was busy people watching when Joe slowly turned Rachel around and got down on one knee. After some tears of joy, Rachel said yes!