Back in 2021, I was living in a one bedroom apartment in Schaumburg IL, just at the border of Hoffman Estates, a short drive from the highway I took to work every morning. And right before that highway, was a Starbucks that I stopped at for coffee on the way to work every single day. It was such a magical, amazing, life changing surprise that one day, out of nowhere, Michelle E. Niland was there at my Starbucks, the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. The magical part, as fate would have it, resides in the series of events that led to us crossing paths at what happens to be both of our favorite place to get coffee. You see, in late 2021 my lease was almost up at my apartment, and i had been considering a move from Schaumburg to Palatine. Also at that time, Michelle was pursuing a promotion at Starbucks, for Store Manager. She had been working for some time at a location near Woodfield Mall, but would have to transfer to another location to get that Manager position. In came fate, as both our paths kept us in line towards each other! For at the last minute as I considered moving I had a sudden change of mind and decided that I wanted one more year at that Schaumburg apartment. Which as it turned out, was the BEST possible last minute decision I could have made because just a few months after that, Michelle was transferred to that very Starbucks that I stopped in every single day! As soon as she was there my world changed. I can remember the way I'd steal glances at her while waiting for my coffee. Only to find that every time I looked at her, she was already looking at me. I aliken us to two magnets, thrown into the same coffeehouse just being pulled to one another. It didn't take long for us to start chatting and having our little cute moments, all the while each of us a stomach full of butterflies. I had heard from another employee there that she loved cats, which was great news to me, having two of my own! And so I started showing her WAY too many cat pictures, as cat people tend to do, but of course she loved it. We clicked immediately, and it wasn't long before we went on our first date in late May of 2022, and of course we hit it off like crazy. Like when you just know right away that you've found something good, something amazing. She just got me, totally got me. And every time I tell this story I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have found Michelle in such a beautiful way. Not even looking for her, just sort of stumbling upon the love of my life. Anyway, now fast forward to summer 2025! Knowing for quite some time already Michelle was "the one", and that I wanted to marry this amazing beautiful woman, I decided I could wait no longer. I proposed on Friday, June 13Th of 2025. And of course, as you all know already, she said YES!!

Lets just say that my dating experiences were a bit rocky in the past. That happens sometimes when you see the best in people and you're open to love. Some might call it nieve, but I like to think its deeper than that. I have always dreamed of meeting "the one" since i was little. That comes with the territory of having parents who have a successful and beautiful marriage. It also comes with the territory of being the youngest and watching your siblings grow and find love. And of course being a Niland comes with the territory of having a big heart! This might sound cliche, but the truth is that I wasn't looking for a relationship. It was clear that I didn't have a solid track record of picking the best men. Not to mention that I was actually in a great place in my life being alone. I was recently promoted at work, and was really excited about where my next steps in my worklife were going! The promotion I took had me relocated to a store in Hoffman Estates. I wasn't supposed to manage that store, but simply train there. Ironically that store is the store that I manage today! During my time in training I met Carl. Let's just say I liked his uniform! I can still remember when he talked to me about cats because he found out that I loved them, and he thought that was his way in! And as scared as I was to talk to someone new, it just felt RIGHT. I've never had anyone sweep me off my feet like he did. Not in a nieve kind of way either; but simply that I truly never have met anyone as kind as Carl. He was one of a kind, and I had that gut feeling that if I didn't get over my fears, that I could miss out on "the one". I am so happy that fate brought us together, because after a couple dates I knew. I knew that I had found my Soulmate. Carl has been the easiest person to love. He brings out the best in me, and has made me feel more loved than I ever imagined possible. Since day one watching him with his spunky energy, pulling into the Starbucks parking lot with his subs blasting bass music. I will truly be forever grateful that he walked into my cafe.