May 22, 2021... our "last single Saturday night". My cousin Jackie (co-maid of honor) was in town and after a family BBQ we decided to head out to our new favorite spot, Philadelphia Tavern in old town Manassas. I had moved to Manassas a few years prior and Jackie moved back to the East Coast from California. Both single, our mission was to spend as much time together as possible, make friends and meet "the locals." Convenient to the townhouse I was renting at the time, quaint and small scale, we liked old town Manassas for the food (hellooo Katerina's and Zandra's!), live music, laughs and our fav little dive bar. We were sitting outside at the bar's patio and listening to live music when someone walked up to us and said "Hi, how are you ladies doing? My name is Chris Vale." We exchanged looks, delighted to have met another local. His buddy Johnny (groomsman) who was with him walked up and joined in the conversation but soon Chris and I were deep in conversation with our attention locked in to each other. [Insert Chris' POV: He was getting ready to head out for the night and saw my cousin and I walk in and he said, wow, I'm gonna go talk to them. Johnny said, Chris c'mon they don't want to be bothered. Chris got up to leave and instead walked over to our table.] While talking I found out he lived and worked 2 miles from my house and I thought, this is great, actually making friends who live near me! I had been casually dating someone else at the time who I really liked but knew I wanted to see Chris again, if only as a new friend to hang out with. If I'm being honest, there was something about his smile and wink that I really liked. I gave him my number and we chatted the next day. As for the guy I was seeing, Chris asked if he had taken me off the market and I said no, it's only been 6 weeks and we're keeping it cool. He said, if I were him, I would have taken you off the market a long time ago, you are fair game. He then invited me out on a boat with him for a first date a week later. Before that happened, I had gotten a ridiculously high quote for work I needed done on my truck and I asked his opinion. Next thing I knew I was bringing my truck to his shop and he was fixing it and I was starting to fall for him. Our first date it was pouring rain, we abandoned the boat idea but as nature lovers we decided to go hiking instead. Hiking to a waterfall in Shenandoah on a misty Memorial Day Saturday under tree and foliage cover ended up being so enchanting and romantic. We never did see the waterfall due to the fog and we were the only people attempting a hike on a day like that. Peaceful and quiet, alone for miles in the forest, we fell for each other. On the way back we stopped for wings and beer to warm up and ended the 8 hour first date at 7pm. Not long after, I called things off with the guy I was seeing and Chris asked me to be his girlfriend on June 16, 2021. For the first time in my life, everything felt so aligned and I wasn't afraid to admit to him not long after, I was in love with him. He asked me to marry him the following August 2022 although he says he knew he wanted to marry me much sooner than that. We are so excited to be building a life together. Not too long ago I was determined never to get married again, was loving a single, uncomplicated life with me and my kids against the world. He made me believe in love again and deep commitment that holds true your entire life, deep commitment you work at and choose each other every day. It was hard at first, accepting being part of a team, accepting help and letting go of my need to always lead. My relationship with Chris has helped me step back into my feminine, open my heart and let myself expand in ways that always scared me before. I never thought I'd be here planning a lovely wedding and building a beautiful life and relationship with another human being. You're my person, Chris Vale. - Maria