We met in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the mobile dating app Bumble in July of 2019. We only exchanged a few messages before agreeing to meet for a casual date at a coffee shop in Ypsilanti, a neighboring town. The afternoon we met, I (Mark), was coming from Ann Arbor PRIDE bedecked in a tie-dye shirt and pink headband. Whitney arrived in a blue and white floral sundress, the sun filtering through her hair and dress as she walked through the wide barn doors of the café. Cliché as it may be, we immediately hit it off. I was taken with this brilliant, strong, stunningly beautiful woman, while she was fascinated by my unique form of charm (being post-call at the time and sleep deprived, she may have been in a fairly impressionable state). We talked until the café closed in mid-afternoon. Not having finished our conversation we walked the streets of Ypsilanti for a few hours. Those who know Whitney well, realize how much she must have been enjoying herself as she usually hates meandering walks with no destination (she's more a napping or running type). We never lacked for things to say, but found ourselves running low on pavement and sunlight, so we headed into downtown Ann Arbor to Aventura, a Spanish tapas restaurant. Sating ourselves with delicious food and sublime connection, we kept finding ways to extend our time together. We rushed to Blank Slate Creamery, arriving just before close to grab a cone, then walked back across town enjoying the warm summer night. Arriving at our respective vehicles, we kissed under the stars before saying goodnight. On our third date, it was time for the ultimate test. We met among the trees of Nichols Arboretum where I introduced Whitney to Tucker, my loyal (some would say overly so) German Shepherd-Border Collie mix. He instantly took a fierce liking to her. The test was complete when her extra-toed cat, Loki, enthusiastically accepted me for my warm lap and adept scratches. After that, we knew it was a done deal.