My first memory of Nick was running through my parents house in Maryland, chasing him with pop guns my dad had gifted to our brothers. We were around 8 and 9. He and his family were visiting us for the summer while his dad was on his first deployment. The Tallos were going through something really new, and wanted to be in a space that was comfortable and fun and supporting, so they came to our home. They came to a house with a family built by Mark’s best friend from high school and pseudo adopted brother, and Susan’s best friend from middle school and appointed BFF-LMNOP. My parents and Nick’s have considered each other family for as long as I can remember. We grew up calling our parents "aunt" and "uncle" and our siblings "cousins" --a habit our brothers still refuse to quit. The close family-ness of our families kept us apart for a long time -- longer than I love to remember. But, the time we weren’t together as a couple were the times we were living and working together at Keuka, living together at Nick's parents' house in Wethersfield, writing to each other while Nick was starting his career, and building a friendship that we base every day on now. The Pietro/Tallos always joked about joining the families with a wedding, but it was always after the fourth bourbon or glass of wine, but was never in any way serious. That is, until I decided that Nick and I were supposed to be together. Nick took a few extra years to figure it out, but the universe conspired with me and here we are, about to officially do this. So many of you have been a part of this story, and we can’t thank you enough for helping us write our beginning. We love you all!