Summer of 2019. Tony was spending most of his time in Florida, taking care of his dad who had been sick. It was one of the more challenging periods in his life and yet one that provided clarity on what really matters. Tony was thinking a lot about the wonderful people in his life, as well as the person who hadn’t yet arrived, despite hope over many years. I was also thinking about the person who had not yet arrived in my life. Although I, unlike Tony, had pretty much given up. We had both been on those dating apps that we were convinced never actually worked for people. Then, seemingly out of nowhere and perfectly timed, I showed up on Tony’s phone and his immediate, instinctual reaction was “Ah…there she is.” And for me, there was one picture with one smile. We had a great phone conversation. Piccino’s Italian restaurant in San Francisco. Our first date was unlike any either of us had been on. The conversation had a great ease to it. We felt like we had known each other for years. We left that evening: I went home and Tony flew to Florida. We both knew we would see each other again. Separately, some little voice spoke up from each of our soul’s letting us feel a connected energy: the universe had brought us together and it felt right. Life events brought challenges for Tony as his dad’s health continued to decline. He was flying between coasts, and managing a corporate job while caring for his dad. I was working as an assistant principal in a high school. We were both smitten with each other, going out on dates when we could but eventually Tony made the difficult decision to remain in Florida. The moment was not right for us. Tony remained with his dad until his passing. I went on with life. I can remember thinking “If it’s truly meant to be, then it will be.” Pause until August 2020! In the midst of the pandemic, Tony “popped” into my head out of the blue one day and I texted him. Tony replied — and now we’re talking and walking Ocean Beach. We spent time together throughout the fall, and Tony spent Thanksgiving with my family! We also celebrated the Christmas holiday together, when Tony met the rest of my family. 2021 and 2022 brought us new adventures! We road-tripped throughout California (Big Sur, Carmel, Central Coast, Catalina Island, and San Diego), celebrated birthdays and holidays, and traveled to New York to meet Tony’s family. We both love adventures and have a curious spirit that usually leads us to find interesting things. We got to know each other well on these trips and had all the conversations a new couple would have to see if they were on the same page about life moving forward…together. In April 2022 we spent the weekend with my family at Stinson Beach. On Sunday April 24, Tony and I took a walk/hike at Bolinas Beach. We found a spot to sit,Tony pulls out a bottle of wine from his backpack, he starts talking and I begin to realize that something is different about this conversation. We talk. And then there is a song, written and sung by Tony, that ends with a proposal of “Will You Marry Me?” on bended knee. And there’s a ring! I say “yes!” We say “yes!” We soak up the moment with sun on our faces and sand between our toes. We returned to the beach house after some time and shared the news with my family to squeals of delight! Our families and friends are very important to us and that’s one part of the pandemic that has been so challenging - neither one of us have met all of you! Each moment we share with each other and you is the absolute perfect way we can share our love story. We’re so very grateful to have found one another and thankful for all that universe magic that brought our two souls together. So join us, along with our families and friends, as we begin a new chapter in our lives together, as husband and wife.