We had been at the same familial parties for many, many, many years. We had known of each other and had been eyeing each other for years. My cousin Darlene always throws the best parties at her beautiful home. Fourth of July, Halloween, New Year's, you name it. If there was a reason to celebrate, we would. Anywho, Susan and I had been sitting next to each other around the bonfire for a good three or four years before we had eventually agreed to "meet" up. It was finally July 4th of 2019 when the romance was set to begin. That night, as my cousin Kelsey, Darlene's granddaughter, was walking Susan to her car, we (Angie, Darlene, my mother, and me), started talking more in depth of her and I getting together. That night I believe Angie said, "Susan needs to meet a nice guy." Then I promptly said, "There's a nice guy sitting right here." After that, on August 10, 2019, Kelsey, Will, Susan and I met up at Skyline and a movie for our first "casual get-together" and the rest is history.

I told Susan I had a "surprise" for her. Then I prompted her to close her eyes as we were going for a car ride. Stephan Field, which is one of the very first parks we went to before we had officially started dating, was the location of the proposal. Her cousin and aunt and I had agreed for them to hide out in the building in the park until we conveniently passed by the spot where a lady had taken our picture almost a year prior. As we passed by that building on the walking trail, her family sneakily emerged from the building, unbeknownst to Susan, and started recording the joyous occasion on their cell phones. I then said to Susan, "I have a question to ask you. You're amazing and beautiful and sweet," which she interrupted by saying, "That's not a question." Then I got on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?" As she was in such shock, she exclaimed "YES!!!"