After graduating from Newberry College in South Carolina I moved to Greenville, South Carolina from Jericho, Vermont. Encouraged by friends, I downloaded a dating app. I stumbled on Patrick’s profile that mentioned growing up in Delaware. Having been born in Delaware, I thought it was odd to find someone on a dating app in South Carolina from closer to home. Patrick and I agreed on a time and place to meet for drinks. Depending on who you ask, the confirmation on time and place may not have been as definitive as previously stated and I proceeded to ask 40 minutes later if, “tonight was not a good night?”. Both thinking we had been stood up, Patrick responded, “I have been here the entire time”. About 50 minutes after the intended start time of the date, I walked in to Patrick still at a table for two waiting for me to show up. During the date, Patrick talked about his family, love of sports and several close friendships he had from college. A couple of friends with whom he would be going to Naples, Florida with the next day to play golf. Friends that I have now come to know as my own, who Patrick still continues to have strong relationships with today. It became increasing clear that Patrick and I thought very similarly on the importance of family and friends and had an effortless connection when talking. We do however, have a strong difference of option on what being on time means. After the rough-starting date, Patrick asked me to hang out again and we decided on bowling. To this day, Patrick stands by his notion that bowling is the only competitive sport I can beat him in. Years down the line, we have had many competitive dates and competitions including golfing together, mini golf, wii sport mini games, ring toss, 1v1 basketball, pickleball, tennis, football, swimming, and I am sure many more. Although I have come close, I have yet to win. Of course, I have failed to mention distance running, something I am far better at than Patrick, because Patrick does not consider it a, “competitive sport” (which seems suspicious?). I’ve decided to include this not only because I seldom get the chance to win against Patrick which drives my competitive nature nuts but to show that although we are so eagerly competitive with each other in sports and games, it is all lighthearted and it is one of our favorite things to do. Sports and games bring Patrick and I joy and laughter and we hope to one day create a family of our own that can share this love of lighthearted competition and laughter. In February 2022, Patrick moved to Bethesda, MD outside of D.C. for a job and the chance to live life in the city. Shortly after in August 2022, I followed. Now a family of four accompanied by our two dogs Dolley and Micki, Patrick and I navigated life in a 700 square foot apartment in the city (war flashbacks). 6 months later, Patrick and I moved to Arlington, VA to be surrounded by a more youthful crowd. Needless to say, Bethesda was not the opitomy of youth. In January 2024, Patrick asked me to marry him in Playa Del Carmen in Mexico on a private rooftop where we shared dinner alone and talked about our future together. A year after we moved to Arlington, driven back by friends, warm weather and a vision of a family growing up in Greenville, a place we love and cherish so much, Patrick and I packed up our then 900 square foot apartment and drove back to Greenville. Surrounded by so many friends, Patrick and I hope to buy a house and raise a family in Greenville, a place we both cried while leaving, and returned back wondering why anyone would ever leave.