I attempted connection with Rebecca on a dating app called Hinge sometime in late June, 2022. Apparently, she wasn’t interested since I received no response. Bearing her in mind, I watched for her as time went by, but I never saw her profile again, on Hinge or any of the other dating apps I was on (more than 10!). On August 16, I ended up accidentally paying for a subscription to e-harmony. While trying to close out the app, my iPhone read my fingerprint and immediately paid for it! I was angry, until, while perusing the app and adjusting settings, I ran across a profile for Becca again! Imagine my excitement and disbelief! I said to myself “now’s your second chance, you have to reach out again!” So I sent a message, but hope quickly faded again as days started passing by without response. However, 4 days later, she ACTUALLY responded! Conversation ensued and went very nicely so after several weeks, we decided to meet in person. We met in Springfield, Ohio at a coffee shop named Winan’s. I walked in shortly after Becca. Upon entering, I shook her hand, introduced myself, and asked to buy her a drink. Black coffee for me and a hot chocolate for her (I learned very early in our e-harmony conversation that Becca was not a coffee drinker. Hey, nobody’s perfect 😉). After receiving our drinks, we went upstairs and enjoyed our time in a private room (which we counted as a cute personal blessing). We sat at a small table and started talking! Smitten with each other, we talked until close, exchanged numbers, and went our separate ways. And as they say, the rest is history!

Ian and I had talked about moving forward in our relationship, but that didn't mean I was prepared for that Friday night. When I arrived at Ian's apartment he seemed to be in an unusually giddy mood. In what turned out to be a very coy move, he suggested taking a walk in the gorgeous weather to start our evening (a pastime we had both come to regularly enjoy), pretended googling places to go, then declared he had an idea and we should take off! He drove me to the Park of Roses, which we had visited once before, much earlier in the year, when everything was lifeless. This time it was vibrant and full of blooms. We held hands and wandered through the beautifully manicured gardens. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company as we walked through the floral display. Unbeknownst to me, Ian was watching for the perfect, private moment. As we were walking along a forested area on one edge of the garden, we spotted a path leading into the foliage. Ian suggested we check out where it led. We entered and found ourselves in a lush, green wonderland. We walked for a brief bit, enjoying the scenery, before Ian stopped us and pulled me into his arms. After sharing some very sweet words and thoughts with me, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. He endured a few tense moments as I stood in stunned silence (diamonds are very distracting!), but I finally said yes. I have never been more excited! We continued the celebration that evening at The Refectory where we enjoyed a champagne toast and a 3 course meal, including creme brulee, made by a chef who trained under the inventor of the dessert. It's a night that will live in my memory for a lifetime!