In 2012, Germaine lived in New Jersey and worked at a candy company. An offer came her way: a promotion that involved relocation to the Minneapolis sales office. In the same year, Zachary (native to Long Island) was studying at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The choice around graduate school loomed. His top pick? The University of Minnesota. Both Zach and Germaine packed their East Coast lives and moved to MN. For almost a decade, they lived in the Twin Cities and frequented similar spots – Open Streets festivals, farmers markets, breweries, the lakes, and even the local library. Yet, they never met. One day, that changed with a little help from a dating app called Coffee Meets Bagel. Deep in the time of winter and COVID-19, they arranged for a first date. With face masks on, they could only see the other’s face above the bridge-of-the-nose. But as their eyes sparkled at each other, they knew --- they might be on to something. Together, Zach and Germaine continue to live in Minnesota. They are excited to travel, try new experiences, and challenge one another. One of their goals is to stay overnight in all fifty states. By the Numbers # of years since they’ve met: 4 # of flights hours Zach (pilot) and Germaine (co-pilot) in the Cessna plane: 44 # of fences Zach has built for Germaine’s community garden plot – 2 # of islands Germaine & Zach visited in the Philippines – 11 # of episodes of The West Wing they’ve watched together: 155 # of collective Twin Cities addresses (separately and together) they have resided in – 8 # of times Zach has asked Germaine if they can get a dog – 100 # of red kangaroos at the Detroit Zoo where they got engaged – 7 # of states they have visited - 16 # of Zachary’s socks that get lost when Germaine does laundry – Too Many