On January 21, 2019, Jack walked into a bar to join his friend Christian's trivia team. Little did he know he was walking in to meet his future wife! Mary was immediately struck by his leather jacket, heavy accent, and passion for the "Great Northeast." Jack liked her enthusiasm, and was impressed to be meeting Betsy Ross. They didn't win quizzo, but ended the evening with an awkward hug, which Mary teases Jack about to this day. A couple weeks later, the neighborhood newspaper arrived at Mary's door with an article by Jack on the front page. Mary messaged Jack to congratulate him; Jack, assuming she was making a move on him (a point they've disagreed on ever since), suggested they meet up again sometime. Thus they made plans for Jack to visit Mary at the Betsy Ross House. On February 10th, they flirtatiously debated flag history as other visitors butted in with detailed questions about upholstery. The evening ended with a significantly less awkward hug as Jack gave her his business card, saying, "call me." With cheeks sore from smiling, Mary looked forward to seeing him again.

After a couple weeks of dating, Jack called Mary up and asked her to "go steady" with him. A big fan of Bye Bye Birdie, Mary insisted he must pin her to make it official. Jack didn't quite know what that meant, but after watching "Telephone Hour", he showed up a few days later to seal the deal with a pink hibiscus pin. Who knew that a year later he'd upgrade to a diamond ring! On March 24th, 2020, the vigil of the Feast of the Annunciation, and a week and a half into Philly's shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, they took a walk through Pennypack Park to catch the sunset. Trying to social distance away from a man blasting classical music from his bike as he stared at ducks, Jack led Mary up a dirt trail to a ridge overlooking the creek. Observing the incoming spring blossoms (and yet again referencing musical theater, this time singing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Mary bent down to show Jack one particular bush's buds, when he got down on one knee and simply said, "Miss McGinley, will you be my wife?" Just like on their first date, Mary couldn't stop smiling. Hopefully, that will be the case for the rest of their lives together.