Every love story has its own beginning and ours started on October 15th, 2022. It's not quite a fairy tale love kind of story, but it's as close as you can get. We met at a party a friend had invited us to. From the moment we saw each other we knew something was special about that other person. All through the night we stayed up discussing everything from Portugal, to theology, to political topics. We didn't want the night to end, and as the moon waned and dawn etched closer, I walked her back to her car. But I didn't get her number. ... How could he not ask me for his number? He was so cute and such a gentleman, and I couldn't wait to see him again. I had to do something! I had extra tickets to a Portuguese bull fight the next day, so I invited Nick and my new friends from Oktoberfest. Since I didn't have his number, I had to get creative, so I texted him through our church messaging app. Sadly, Nick didn't see my message until the day after the bull fight. He was so sad he missed it that he sent me his number so I'd have it in case anything else fun came up. ... I don't know what is worse, not getting the girl of your dream's number or missing a Portuguese bull fight. I will say that she made good on her promise, and a year later she did eventually take me to a bull fight. It was worth the wait. Depending on who you talk to you'll get a differing opinion on when our first date was. I think it was when we were above the clouds flying in an airplane watching the sunset after taking a day trip to half moon bay. Not bad for a first date. ... Don't get me wrong! A sunset plane ride over San Francisco is the most romantic thing to ever happen to me. But our first date was definitely when Nick asked me to dinner at Tower Cafe (which was before the plane ride!). We spent the whole night talking, again! I ordered us Caipirinhas, a Portuguese drink, and we finished our dinner with creme brûlée, which happened to be both of our favorite dessert. After, we spent a couple more hours just walking and talking around downtown Sacramento. Who do you think is right? ... About a month after we met, on November 22nd, 2022, I officially asked Madyson to be my girlfriend, and fast forward to New Year's Day 2024, at Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, I officially asked Madyson to marry me. ... Of course I said "yes!"