We met through a common employer in 2018, but the journey to the first date was not a straight path. We’re pretty sure Jake asked multiple times to go out for drinks, and there was always a polite “I’d love to!” which was followed by a generally lousy excuse. It wasn’t until 2021 that the offer was taken up to grab a drink in Corning, New York. After becoming dazed and running into a few white walls at the glass museum, the time spent together was enough to agree to go out again… and again… and again. And I couldn’t imagine exploring new places with anyone else.

Somehow he kept this ring in the back of his Buick Regal TourX from approximately Valentine’s Day 2022 until mid-May. This man asked me to go to his car for MANY different things, with the ring tucked in the back seat, and I looked over it every single time. Neither of us can vow to be observant, and only one of us can vow to cook.