We connected through a dating site called Coffee Meets Bagel, per the persuasion of Calvin's friend, Michelle de Vera and Ruby's friend, Gina Gioldassis. The site connects you to people you have mutual friends with on Facebook: thanks a million, Ethan Elenberg! We hit it off, chatting up a storm, both admiring each other's silly sense of humor and love of outdoor activities. Ruby was working as a historic tour guide at the South Street Seaport Museum at the time. As a perk of the job, a two-hour sailboat ride on the 1885 Pioneer Schooner seemed like the perfect first date idea! Ruby brought the picnic; Calvin brought the wine. Calvin was thankful the date didn't end with him swimmin' with da fishes...quite the contrary...we could not stop talking! By the end of the boat ride, we forgot to even open our wine and eat our food! Neither of us wanted the date to be over, so we continued the evening with a beautiful stroll around the southern tip of Manhattan: happening upon magical blue lights along the river. We found a bench under an arbor, looked out onto the water and...there were fireworks! Literal fireworks...I suppose figurative ones as well. We stayed out, enjoying our romantic spot, until the last possible minute before Calvin had to catch the last train to New Jersey. The rest is history...

We were up in Maine with Ruby's folks, spending a few days visiting family and friends. It was a much-needed little getaway at the Samoset Resort. We kept Friday as a date-day for the two of us and we would meet Ruby's parents and her other Maine-parents, Audrey and Sky, out on Vinalhaven the next day. It was the perfect day: a New York Times crossword puzzle over coffee and Hannaford muffins; a beautiful, relaxing and invigorating stand up paddle boarding trip on the Megunticook River; tasty lobster rolls overlooking Camden Harbor; window-shopping and Christmas shopping in town; a delicious, fancy dinner overlooking the ocean...and the plan was to go for a walk on the breakwater out to the lighthouse after dinner (a tradition Ruby has done every year and that Calvin has joined in on). It made sense to Ruby that we'd go for a walk Friday because our previous attempt was cut short due to Calvin losing his phone after we decided to roll down a hill...duh. However, after dinner, Ruby wanted to change out of her dress and heels. "You sure?" Calvin asks. "Yes." Ruby responds with no sympathy or any idea of what's to come. When we got back to the room, in proper Ruby fashion, it was time for a nap! "Well, we should really get out while it's still light out," Calvin insists..."Okay, just five minutes." Finally, we began our romantic sunset stroll...but about a quarter of the way out onto the breakwater, unbeknownst to Calvin, Ruby had the worst stomach ache of her life. Halfway through, Ruby stopped and said, "I feel really sick. We should turn around." "Are you sure?!" Calvin replied. "Yes, we need to go now," and Ruby proceeded to hurriedly turn in the opposite direction. "WAIT!"...Oh, poor Calvin. In a rush he says, "Will you marry me?!" and pulls out a ring. "NO!" Ruby replied..."Well....yes, yes. I mean yes, but let me just go run to the bathroom and I'll be right back. Do it again. I'll act surprised!!" We came back later and had our beautiful, romantic moment.