We still laugh about it—Rachel spotted Dean and she decided he was worth her best opening line. Her message about favorite snacks (a mutual passion) was just quirky enough to catch Dean's attention, and just like that, we were texting non-stop! After a week of messaging, we graduated to FaceTime, where we quickly determined we were each "normal enough" to meet in person (the bar was admittedly low in dating app world). Taking a leap of faith, we arranged our first date in Los Angeles in early 2020—just as the world was about to change forever. Talk about timing! While most new relationships might have crumbled under the pressure of a global pandemic, ours somehow thrived. We became each other's quarantine buddies, Netflix partners, and eventually, best friends. Those uncertain times showed us what we were made of, both individually and together. Five years, three pets, and three shared homes later, we've built a life we love—one filled with Norah Jones pancake breakfasts, long walks around the neighborhood, and the kind of support that makes sleeping easier. Now that Dean has put a ring on it, we're ready to "do the real dang thing" and can't wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you. Thanks for being part of our journey—the best is yet to come!