Almost ten years ago, both of us had reached the same conclusion: online dating was… not great. After too many awkward conversations and questionable messages on Plenty of Fish, I was ready to call it quits. Then, just as I was about to delete my profile, a direct message popped up in my inbox. “Hi. I’m Tom.” It wasn’t flashy or over the top — just simple, kind, and genuine. And for some reason, it made me smile. We started chatting, though I’ll admit, things moved slowly at first. (Tom was not exactly known for his lightning-fast text replies!) Soon, my whole department at work was in on the drama — offering boy advice, analyzing every message, and celebrating every small step forward. Looking back, all that patience (and peer support!) was worth it. Our early dates involved Disneyland and attending Dodgers games — the latter being the perfect plan for two (supposed) Dodger fans. Or so I thought. A few months later, Tom turned down an offer for free Dodger tickets — good seats, too! That’s when it clicked. Something was off. After a bit of playful interrogation, he confessed: he wasn’t a Dodger fan at all! He was a Cincinnati Reds fan. The betrayal! After teasing him relentlessly (and accusing him of being an Angels fan at first — the jokes!), I decided I could live with it. After all, my Grandpa Papa was a huge Reds fan, and I like to think he’s up in heaven smiling at the coincidence. From that point on, life with Tom has been a beautiful, funny, adventure-filled ride. We’ve traveled to more than nine countries (including his mother country in beautiful Slovenia), taken countless road trips, and built a little home filled with love (and fur babies). After saying goodbye to my beloved soul dog, Eva, we welcomed Pepe the kitty and Olive the pup into our lives — joining our other cat Kitty and completing our perfectly chaotic little family. And then came the proposal — the moment that sealed it all. While exploring the charming streets of Salzburg, Austria, Tom got down on one knee in front of a beautiful fountain. Just as he asked the question, a group of school kids on a field trip nearby, started cheering and clapping for us — the sweetest, most unexpected audience we could’ve asked for. That moment, surrounded by laughter and love, perfectly summed up our relationship — a little bit of humor, a lot of heart, and a lifetime’s worth of memories in the making. It all began with a simple “Hi. I’m Tom.” And now, here we are — ready to say “I do,” and start the next chapter of our forever. <3