There's online dating and then there's online dating amid the pandemic, complete with FaceTime dates and literal Netflix and chill. Dating had always been tough, but when you are instructed to not socialize, well, that made it significantly harder to meet the one. Despite the challenges, like so many great love stories, we finally met on Hinge. The First Date: Our first in-person date was on July 4th, 2020, because let's face it there were no barbecues or pool parties that summer, and neither of us wanted to be alone for the holiday. We first met at Whiskey Charlie at the Wharf in DC (convenient for Simit since he lived within walking distance). Within minutes of us meeting, Simit showed me his negative COVID test as a sort of joke but was it really? After a few old fashioneds, we moved to Cantina Bambina where we watched the fireworks over the water and the rest was history. The Proposal: Fast forward to December 25th, 2024 (yes, another holiday). We rented a cozy little cabin in Shenandoah. It was reminiscent of the pandemic because everything was closed but at least we had a grill, a firepit, and a hot tub (all necessities for a future pandemic). Long story short - with a fire burning and the stars around us, Simit finally popped the question with K-Ci and JoJo's All My Life playing in the background (his song request).