12.11.21

Match.com! Yes, we met on a dating site. We were both about to deactivate our accounts when we received the "It's a Match!" notification. We connected and started a conversation that led to numbers being exchanged and a first date at Wild Wing Cafe. That night, we both had on stylish leather jackets that were basically the same color and the band was doing terrible renditions of Michael Jackson. Deron was in the process of moving to Charlotte and when he found a place, we discovered that we were neighbors (literally right across the street from each other). That first date led to a second, and many more after that, as we discovered the countless things we had in common (and the things we didn't). It wasn't long before we realized that "swiping right" was the best decision we could have made because it truly was a beautiful Match!

Rachel went to her dad's house on Christmas Eve, then to her mom's later that evening. Deron said he was going to "stop by" to say Merry Christmas on his way out of town to see his parents. Rachel's mom was playing a playlist of love songs, had the house decorated from floor to ceiling and claimed she was cooking and baking for other families. Deron told her that plans had changed and his parents were actually going to come up to Charlotte instead. They were going to "stop by" as well to say Merry Christmas. Rachel greeted them at the door and offered them wine and spirits, while Deron went around the back of the house to sneak in 3 more family members and change into the outfit he was wearing on the night they met. When Rachel saw everyone, she was surprised but still thought they were all there to simply celebrate Christmas. Then Rachel's mom came around the corner with a tablet displaying a Zoom call with the rest of Rachel's immediate and extended family members (due to Covid-19). Rachel was still oblivious and simply said "Hi Grandma!". Then Deron tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned around, every camera phone in the room went up and Deron slowly got down on one knee. Rachel never cries, but she did that night (after she said "YES" of course!)