It all started with a swipe. Kyle and Sarah, two people just trying to navigate the world of online dating, swiped right on Bumble. After a few messages, Kyle asked Sarah out on a date. He had planned to take her to sushi. Pretty standard, right? But when they met in person, Sarah had a different idea. “I’m actually really craving chicken strips,” she said. Without skipping a beat, Kyle smiled and said, “Chicken strips it is!” And just like that, their first date took an unexpected turn. They ended up at Denny’s, eating chicken strips and fries, and talking for hours—like, four hours. They talked about everything: their lives, their pasts, their dreams, and random thoughts. By the end of it, they both knew they had something special. Fast forward a couple of years. Their relationship was full of adventures, laughs, and yes, lots of food cravings. One day, during a conversation about marriage, Sarah asked Kyle, “When are you going to propose?” Kyle, without missing a beat, replied with a grin, “I’ll propose to you once I get my first banded duck.” For those who don’t know, a banded duck is a rare find. It’s a duck with a small metal band around its leg that’s used to track bird migrations. And Kyle made it clear: banded ducks aren’t easy to come by, so a proposal was definitely not happening anytime soon. Then came August 2024. Kyle had a surprise up his sleeve. He convinced Sarah that he was going dirt bike riding the next day. Their friends came over, hung out, and left around 11 p.m. Sarah, tired and clueless, plopped herself down on the couch. That’s when Kyle walked in, sat next to her, and let out a big sigh. “Sarah,” he said, “I’ve been lying to you... I’m not going dirt bike riding. We’re actually going away. We leave at 4 a.m. Pack a bag and get some sleep.” Naturally, Sarah was confused. “Wait, what?” But she packed a bag, tried to sleep, and off they went. The next morning, they woke up to rain—lots of it. And Kyle casually says, “We’re going to Eureka.” Now, for anyone who doesn’t know, Eureka is a bit of a drive. And not just any drive—it’s a narrow, winding road, especially when you take Highway 36. It’s dark, twisty, and pouring rain. It took them 4.5 hours to get there. But Sarah didn’t mind too much—she trusted Kyle and knew something exciting was coming. Finally, they made it to Eureka, and Kyle had a whole day planned. Couples massages, a cozy brunch, sightseeing, and more. But the best part? The proposal. As the day came to an end, Kyle took Sarah to the beach. With the waves crashing and the evening sky settling in, Kyle got down on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?” Of course, Sarah said yes. Then, in December 2024, Sarah and Kyle went on a cold, wet duck hunt. After the hunt, they headed to Sarah’s grandfather’s house to get ready for a family dinner. Kyle excused himself to clean his ducks, and when he started going through them, he spotted something amazing. His first banded duck. It was a female pintail, and as soon as Kyle saw the band around her leg, he could hardly believe it. He rushed into the house, his excitement bubbling over. “Sarah! Look! It’s my first banded duck!” Sarah looked at the duck and then at Kyle, remembering that conversation from years ago. “Do you remember what you said?” she asked with a smile. “You told me you wouldn’t propose until you got your first banded duck.” Kyle froze for a second, then looked at her, the realization hitting him. With a grin, he said, “Well, I guess it was meant to be.” And just like that, the man who had joked about proposing only when he found a rare duck, was holding that very duck in his hands—ready to marry the love of his life.