The beginning of our story is one of good timing, or serendipity. Luci had moved back to Lexington from South Carolina in 2019, just months before the world shutdown, while Jon Claude bid several of his close friends farewell as they moved away over that same period. When a friend asked him if he wanted to play in a co-ed soccer league Jon Claude leapt at the opportunity. It was a chance to get out of the house, relive the glory days, and make new friends. Luci, being the bolder one of us had already signed up by herself to be assigned to any team with room on their roster. Fortunately, she was added to Jon Claude’s team. While chemistry quickly began both on and off the field, the jury will forever be out on who initially won over whom. Luci swears that her natural charm and allure caught the eye of this new boy from week 1, while Jon Claude "knows" that he won Luci’s enthrallment after he scored a hat trick a few weeks in. After the season ended, we went out for a night of trivia and arcade games with folks from the team and Jon Claude asked Luci if she wanted to get dinner the next evening. She agreed, and after a delightful meal and even better conversation, Jon Claude invited himself to go with Luci to her dentist’s Christmas party (which was not an excuse Luci made to not hang out again) the next night, which led to another memorable date. Before we knew it, we had both found the connection that we had all but given up on several months earlier. Our free time often involves going to the park or on walks with the dogs, but we also enjoy going on movie dates, trying new places, geocaching, attending UK football and basketball games, and still making plenty of time to hang out with friends. We also love our quiet nights-in watching movies or playing board games. Luci was forced to get up to pace on the Marvel movie franchise, and Jon Claude is now fluent in Friends, Bridgerton, and Law & Order SVU. Last year trips were made to Columbia, SC and Buffalo, NY to initiate each other into the fandoms of our respective sports teams. We have now been best friends for almost two years and have learned to do nearly everything together. It is true that “opposites attract” as Luci with her olive skin and tenure in South Carolina thrives in the sun and bundles up at the whisper of a summer breeze. The more delicate features that Jon Claude has embodied throughout his life incline him to lower the thermostat and wear long-sleeves at the beach. Jon Claude prioritizes efficiency with tasks and values quiet time in the evenings. Luci is detail oriented, triple and quadruple checking her work to provide the best quality in everything she does. Learning to lean into our similarities and shared interests has intensified our intrigue through the routine parts of the week, and we are finding harmony in our differing manners of communication. It has been with bliss and blunder that we have found humility and compromise in doing life with another person. On Luci’s birthday this past April, we went to breakfast and Jon Claude had plans to take Luci to the park to walk off the meal and find a private, tranquil spot to open her presents. By cleverly misleading her with a series of unremarkable gifts, genuine surprise and sentiment were evoked when Luci was offered a ring. We enjoyed spending the remainder of the afternoon together, privately letting reality hit us and admiring the flashy new accessory on Luci’s finger. The months that have passed since our engagement have flown by and feel like a blur. Although it is overwhelming, we are having so much fun planning the details of our wedding and are excited to share our celebration with friends and family. We are so thankful to have met each other and are equally thankful for everyone who has helped get us get to this day, both individually and as a couple. We look forward to celebrating with you in March!