They say that by a certain age you've already crossed paths with the person you'll marry. Whether that's a fact or just a fun myth, we're living proof. We both grew up less than a mile apart in Upper Township, riding the same bus to and from grade school. Did we talk? Not once. Joe was the cool skater kid in the back of the bus, and Francesca was the athlete busy defending her undefeated track record. Life carried on—college, jobs, different cities. Then came 2021, post COVID shut down. Joe was living in Santa Clara, CA, working for the San Francisco 49ers, and Francesca was still in New Jersey. One day while scrolling through Instagram, Francesca saw a photo Joe posted of the 49ers' French bulldog, Rookie, wearing a mask. Being a dog lover, she couldn't resist reacting with a heart-eyes emoji. Joe saw his chance and replied, "If you want to meet him, come out to Cali sometime." And just like that, Rookie played matchmaker. From there, we began what became the true test of our relationship—long distance. For an entire year, nearly 3,000 miles stood between us. But with every late-night call, every trip back and forth, and every little moment we shared from afar, it became clearer that this was more than coincidence—it felt like fate. And if fate needed any more proof, here's a fun fact: we share the same birthday. The rest, as they say, is history.