It all started on a rainy, gray afternoon in Allegheny County. Erica, in need of some serious retail therapy, hopped in her little white Pontiac Vibe and made the 90-minute drive to the Walden Galleria in Buffalo. Meanwhile, Joe was working at Dick’s Sporting Goods while finishing up his degree. He had on that classic forest-green polo (which, to this day, he swears was his best look). Erica walked in, headphones in, determined to avoid the usual “So… do you play basketball?” questions, and made a straight line for the shoe department. Joe noticed her instantly. Tall, confident, and clearly not from around there—she stood out in the best way. Leaning toward his coworkers, he said, “I got this one.” Then, breaking every store rule (since the pandemic had just started), he pulled his mask down just enough to flash a smile and asked, “Can I help you find something?” Erica turned, expecting the same old awkward comments. Instead, she found Joe—kind, genuine, and refreshingly normal. “I’m actually looking for Pumas,” she said. (Yes, it was a phase.) Joe gave a small, apologetic smile. “Sorry, we don’t carry Puma. But I can help you with anything else.” That was it. No jokes about her height, no invasive questions—just respect. And that small detail stuck with her. After checking out, Erica headed back to her car. As she glanced down at her receipt, she noticed a scribble on the back: “Call me ~ Joe” with a number. (Side note: yes, Erica still has the original receipt tucked away safely.) Two days later, curiosity got the better of her. She sent a text. Joe answered right away. Soon, they were FaceTiming, laughing for hours, and planning their first date. Fast forward four and a half years, and they’ve barely spent a week apart. Even when Erica moved to Boston for her coaching career and Joe stayed behind to finish school, they made it work. The WiFi wasn’t always great, the long-distance wasn’t easy, but their connection was stronger than anything that tried to get in the way. What started with a random shopping trip turned into the kind of love story that feels once-in-a-lifetime: two best friends who became soulmates. A love full of laughter, respect, and loyalty. A love worth celebrating—today, tomorrow, and always.