We met in our mid-20s here in good ol’ Connecticut, where we both grew up. Shawn had recently moved back from North Carolina after serving as a firefighter/EMT, while Sammy had just started working as an EMT after graduating from college in Washington, D.C. Our relationship got off to a promising start when Shawn canceled our first date because, apparently, race cars were more important (he knows better now). Somehow, Sammy still gave him a second chance at LongHorn Steakhouse. During dinner, Shawn spent most of the evening silently staring at Sammy instead of talking or eating like a normal person, which was mildly concerning. To really seal the deal and let Shawn know she was interested, Sammy ended the night with a side hug, leaving Shawn convinced he had been officially friend-zoned. Fortunately, after some communication and a little persistence from Shawn, we made it to a second date—even though Sammy was unintentionally very late. We finally shared our first kiss... and Shawn immediately knocked Sammy’s hat clean off her head. Romance at its finest. By the third date, Sammy somehow managed to make Shawn accidentally cry, so naturally we knew things were getting serious. As our relationship grew, we bonded over our shared values, careers in EMS, love of food, traveling, and Boston sports. A few months later, we moved in together and welcomed our favorite child, Finley. And now, after all the awkward moments, us crazy kids are getting married!