we eloped!

Funny enough, we met at a classic Irish dive bar: McCarthy's in San Luis Obispo on St. Patricks Day, March 17th, 2022. We both had one beer the entire night and had both decided (prior to leaving our houses) that we wouldn't stay out past 9pm. We met standing in line with our friends, we shook hands and smiled (and both thought the other one was super freaking cute). We spent the night trying to get to know one another while simultaneously being distracted by all the wild St.Patricks day craziness happening all around us. James would ask, "So... are you from around here?" right before some drunk guy would burst into the bar and distract everyone. Five minutes later Bailey would respond, "Actually yeah, I grew up in SLO. How about you?" And this back and forth went on till about 2am. James tried to play it real cool guy, not too excited too fast. Bailey thought she was keeping it cool but ended up playing the flirting game quite obviously. Looking back, neither of us kept it cool.. ever. We were basically making life plans our third time meeting each other without really knowing about it. On our first date we went to Bear & The Wren and had some delicious Detroit style pizza. James didn't make a reservation so the two of us stood outside for an hour, hour and a half as we giggled and chatted and did our best to scope the other one out. During dinner James lied about liking Marvel movies and Bailey said "Wow, this is almost as bad as having spaghetti on the first date," (in reference to the pizza sauce all over her face.. she's not the cleanest while eating). This sarcasm along with Bailey mentioning she wanted the both of them to meet up with some friends after dinner really made James question if this date was going terribly. Not that Bailey knew, but with a light hand hold and a smile she reassured him she was having a great time and was excited to go out on the town together. After dinner we walked (shivered really.. it was freezing) over to meet some friends at another classic SLO dive bar (which is ironic because we really don't drink much at all). Bailey held onto James' arm to 'stay warm' (not to feel his muscles...) and we both smiled (and shivered). Long story short our first date ended in a kiss in the car and a promise to do this again sometime. And honestly, we haven't stopped. We date and laugh and walk hand in hand. We kiss and tell stories and do our best to learn everything about each other that we can. So now, three years later we are celebrating our love by eloping in San Fransisco on St.Patricks day. We will probably find an Irish bar, like we always do, and cry in that Irish bar... like we always do. And we will know that this is just our beginning. Our end goal is not to be married but to have a long lasting marriage full of love and laughter and God willing, children and grandchildren. It's only the beginning, but its our beginning and its the best beginning ever.