Our love story began not unlike any other love story in this age-- with an email, pertaining to the two hundredth birthday of Sir Walter Whitman, who penned such classic collections of works as Leaves of Grass (1855), Leaves of Grass (1867), and even Leaves of Grass (1892). Yes, the old Captain, my Captain, himself, was turning two hundred and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret was throwing a birthday party for him, an outdoor affair, at Cherry Street Pier, in Philadelphia. This was the first of several hundred email exchanges Nicole and Lucas would share, typically with Nic telling Lucas when and where to be for rehearsal. Lucas lent Nicole a microfiber cloth to clean their sunglasses with, and in exchange, Nic gave Lucas half of their Banh Mi. Walt was a man who enjoyed the attention though, and so one birthday party on one pier in one city was not enough! He demanded the Bearded Ladies throw him another party in another city! And the newly acquainted associates were off to New York! Lucas stayed in a dormitory adjoining La Mama, while Nicole stayed with a friend, Melora, in Astoria. Emails then became texts, and texts soon became plans, and those plans culminated in a night that was to be forever more referred to as Bachelorette Night, where the two, now friends, watched Hannah B chase love, in a not dissimilar manner to which they now chased love. The two contained multitudes, and shared tales of their travels through the night, taking something like six hours to watch a ninety minute episode of the hit ABC reality television show. They were falling in Love. Lucas then left New York while Nicole stayed for some weeks more, celebrating and commemorating the poet, but the two stayed in constant communication. Upon returning to Philadelphia, Nicole agreed to go on a first date with Lucas, a day-long tubing trip on the Delaware River, on a day that is now referred to as Co-Dependence Day (formerly the 4th of July). They fell deeper in Love this day and have continued to each day since.

Part One: Three years later on a lovely Saturday in April, our heroes returned to Cherry Street Pier. Nicole was led to the pier by Rae after a full day of not-at-all suspicious shopping, and was met with a big group of family, friends, and loved ones, (it is even possible that YOU, Dear Reader, were in attendance). In the middle of the crowd stood Lucas, dressed in a purple three-piece suit, amidst a bed of roses, accompanied by a string quartet, and reciting Stefan's proposal to Caroline in Season 8, Episode 14 of the Vampire Diaries. Lucas ended the proposal by presenting a pink sapphire ring that they designed themselves! Moments later, a rainbow filled the sky. Nic (obviously) said yes, and God said Gay Rights. 8.19.22 Part Two: In no small amount of dramatic irony, the shopping trip Nicole and Rae had gone on the morning of April 9th was a special one. Though this was not the day in which the ring was found, Nicole did in fact spend the day searching for the right engagement ring for Lucas, on the day of the planned proposal! Truly wild. At any rate, not long after, they found it! Nic took Lucas to the Bengie's Drive-In Dusk to Dawn event, which they try to attend every year. They, along with Iris and Junie, embarked to Loch Raven, where they watched Black Phone (2022) (not bad but not great to be honest), followed by Nope (2022) (incredible film, would watch again). Once again- the sky gave its blessing, this time in the form of a massive meteor shower. Afterwards, Nic and Lucas went to Prettyboy Reservoir for a midnight swim. While in the water, Nicole tried very hard to get through their prerehearsed proposal speech, which was very difficult because Lucas did not realize that the proclamation of love was a proposal, and kept interrupting to agree. They got the picture when Nicole presented a one-hundred year old blue sapphire ring, and the two agreed (again) to be wed! They now request the company of you all to attend this celebration, as truly what has transpired: the circumstances that led to them meeting, and subsequently becoming irrevocably intertwined are due to no small involvement from each and every one of you. Thank you.