a new chapter begins...

Along the the shores of Lake Erie in the small rustbelt city of Dunkirk, Valerie and John Mackowiak, Sr., welcomed John to the world just hours before Bill Buckner let a routine ground ball roll through his legs in Game 6 of the '86 World Series. Less than a year later, Paula and Peter Picciotto celebrated Sarah's arrival on the same date that 18 years prior The Beatles crossed a street in London and were captured in an iconic image that became cover of their legendary Abbey Road album. They brought Sarah home to their place in Liverpool, the one in New York, not The Beatles' birthplace, and then began a journey that would one day lead Sarah to John. Despite the almost 200 miles between their hometowns, Sarah and John enjoyed similar upbringings. Faith and family traditions filled their homes, and laughter was plentiful even during those moments when tough times or unexpected obstacles disrupted daily life. They also grew up on similar foods, like pierogi and golabki and kapusta, as both were raised in families that descended from Eastern European nations -- with Sarah's family from Ukraine and John's from Poland. The pair, still miles and miles apart, even found themselves taking up similar hobbies and activities, becoming child actors who just missed their shot at having their own sitcoms and soccer players who surprisingly never got the call up from the U.S. National Team.

Life eventually and unexpectedly guided John to Sarah. A staffing agency placed Sarah at an advertising agency, where she grew into a role buying and placing ads for clients. About a year later, John met members of the agency's public relations team and accepted an invitation to visit the company to learn more about them. He eventually made a career change, from State Senate communications staffer to a PR manager in the private sector. When they met soon after John started at the agency, conversation started and never truly stopped. Dating other people at the time, their paths only crossed at the office, as they worked on a few projects together that first year. After John moved from Buffalo to Rochester, they saw more of each other. At social events with coworkers, at networking events hosted by a local young professional group. They played on the same soccer team, ran corporate 5Ks and went to concerts with their work crew. Over time, they both became single, and interested. At one legendary company holiday party, as they danced the night away, both unleashed some sweet moves that grabbed the others' attention. Sarah leapt into the center of the dance floor and twirled, the motion causing her dress to billow out. John, during M.I.A.'s hit song "Paper Planes", played as if his necktie was a gun and fired celebratory shots into the air during the song's gunshot chorus. If there's dancing in heaven, it's obvious this match must have been made there. It's rumored that after this holiday event several of Sarah and John's friends and coworkers predicted they were destined to be together. It was just a matter of time.

John and Sarah's first date wasn't necessarily intended to be a first date. Sure, there was attraction and butterflies in their stomachs when they saw each other, but both were playing it cool. Neither knew how the other felt. That changed on June 3, 2016. At work, which also happened to be his last day at the company where they met, John mentioned he was going to watch U.S. men's soccer game against Columbia in the Copa America tournament at Brickwood, a Rochester soccer bar. Sarah said she'd love to join, so they made plans for a pickup before the game. That evening, which was meant for drinks, dinner and watching the game, started at Rocco, a restaurant across the street from the soccer bar. But they never left their spots next to each other at Rocco. Laughs and sparks flew. Story after story shared, their eyes locked the entire time, something special was happening. The evening's plans got away from them. Once they realized they had lost track of time, they ran over to the soccer bar. They walked in as the game was ending. In her typically sweet way, Sarah said how sorry she was they missed the game. John was obviously fine with it and said he would happily miss any soccer game if it meant he got to spend time with her. The comment surprised Sarah, and she wanted to know what he meant. "I mean, I like you, and I would miss a Bills game, let alone a soccer game, to spend time with you," John said jokingly. Sarah pressed for clarity, "Wait, what does that mean?" She knew what he was saying but wanted to be sure. "I really like you, and I would skip a Buffalo Bills PLAYOFF game if it meant I could be with you," John said emphatically. The Bills had not been to the playoffs in 17 years. Sarah knew exactly what John meant. "Well, you wouldn't have to worry about that, because we'd watch it together," Sarah said with a smile. Then, it all poured out. They finally shared how they felt about each other, and they've been inseparable ever since.

When John's company, The Martin Group, assigned him to help start its new office in the Capital Region, it created an opportunity for the couple to grow even closer, to take the next step. In what was a big question before THE big question, John asked Sarah if she would move with him and Moosie to Albany. "Can we at least visit it first?" Sarah asked, reasonably yet ready to move. After the visit, they made the decision to move together. And, in March 2018, they got the keys to the first home they've shared together, an apartment in the heart of downtown Albany. They are just a 10-minute walk to the Capitol and a day trip from any adventure in the Catskills or Adirondacks. With family and friends still in Central and Western New York, and as season ticket holders for the Buffalo Bills, they have spent A LOT of time on the Thruway since their move to Albany. They continue to punch their frequent flyer cards to Syracuse, Rochester and Dunkirk for get-togethers and holiday events with family and friends, and they've hit the I-87 stretch down to New York City often, too. They have checked off several Catskill peaks with Moosie, who has proven himself to be a 20-pound beast on those mountains, and they usually find a local craft brewery to visit on the way home. They don't frequently cross the Massachusetts border, but when they visited Boston, they saw Liverpool FC at Fenway Park in a preseason tune-up game. Montréal, Canada, was another epic trip. Just a month before the pandemic shutdown, they attended Nuit Blanche, an all-night arts experience during the Montréal En Lumiére festival. Whether for art, music, sports or adventure, Sarah and John are big-time road trippers. But, their first trip together to the Adirondacks together was especially memorable. A trip that will be forever etched into their story.

In August 2020, they visited Lake Placid. While John said he was planning it as a birthday getaway for Sarah, he was actually planning something much bigger. With his sisters' advice, John decided to pop the question near, not directly on Sarah's birthday. Together, they planned a perfect day. A walk near Whiteface Mountain, a day of kayaking, and dinner to end the night. What Sarah didn't know is what would happen after dinner. Here's how they each experienced it individually. Sarah: Even though it was raining, John insisted we take a walk to the pocket park right below the second-story restaurant where we had dinner. When we got a spot to ourselves, looking out on Mirror Lake, he took both of my hands to say how completely he enjoyed our day kayaking together, my birthday celebrations, how much he loves me, how much the past four years together have meant to him and so much more that I wish I could remember more of the specifics! Just as I thought we were only having a nice moment, he knelt down, held up a gorgeous diamond ring and asked for a lifetime together! John: Throughout the day, I was scouting locations for the proposal. I saw a couple of spots at the water's edge that I thought would be perfect. Later that evening, after we sat at our table at Top of the Park restaurant, I saw the spot where I'd ask, a quiet little park below us. When dinner ended, it wasn't just butterflies fluttering in my stomach, it felt like a flock of gulls. In the restroom, I practiced what I would say in the mirror and took a deep breath. We went to the park but had to wait for some trouble-making teenagers to vamoose before we had the place to ourselves. When the moment came, I took Sarah's hands, told her how much I loved her, how amazing our journey together has been, how excited I was for everything still to come. I got down on a knee and asked her to marry me. Her reaction was the best thing I've ever experienced. It was pure joy, a moment that will last forever.

Their story has touched almost every corner of Upstate New York. Sarah's early days in Central New York. John's in Western New York. Meeting in Rochester. Moving to the Capital Region. And, engaged in the Adirondacks. Now, the first pages of the next chapter will be written in the Catskills. However, this next chapter does open with the challenge that our entire world has been navigating, the COVID-19 pandemic. During these unprecedented times, Sarah and John are taking the unique opportunity to have an intimate, CDC-compliant wedding celebration with immediate family members at Antrim Streamside in Livingston Manor, NY. In the near and safe future, they hope to plan a big party, with plenty of dancing and cheers with you, their extended family and friends! It might even be a one-year anniversary party!