09.08.2023

I moved to Washington, DC, in the Summer of 2015 to attend GU. An avid lover of coffee, especially when studying and attending classes, I often found myself in and out of my local Starbucks. About a year later, Eddie is training to be a store manager... and you guessed it...gets transferred to MY Starbucks!! Here is where our story begins :) It started with small talk about nutrition (holy sugar, Starbucks!) and exchanging sweet smiles. One day, as my bestie classmate, Sheba, and I were leaving a study sesh, Eddie walked out of the store at the same time. We all get to talking, and then eventually, he and I exchange info. We hung out for the first time later that week. He was wearing a pink polo shirt. We had so much fun together just talking and getting to know each other, and before we knew it, hours passed. It suddenly felt like we had known each other forever. I knew I had someone special; I had found my soulmate. I am so grateful for this moment that became a once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary love.

I had the pleasure of building connections with people from all over! I loved coming to work and knowing I would see some fun folks from the neighborhood and meeting new people as well. Frequently I compliment customers on their attire or accessories and it would be a easy way to start a conversation. One lovely afternoon in Cathedral Heights, I was taking a order from a beautiful young lady who had the most stunning nails. They were Tiffany blue and I will never forget because they made me feel like a butterfly from the spring gardens came fluttering out of my heart. From this moment I knew I had meet someone special today. I complimented her on these gorgeous nails and then came the conversation! We spoke about her ordering the most unhealthy drink on the menu and she laughed as she was studying Health and Wellness at the local Georgetown University! How funny I thought! I remember seeing her beautiful smile and her quirky laugh erupt as we both found something so funny in this irony. From there we continued to share eye contact and find something to bring us away from the subject and I had the hook and line but wasn’t sure about the sinker. I told her it was a pleasure helping and and would see her on the next visit. She replied the same and paused on her way out to add more sugar to her white mocha LOL!!! Alyssa would come down and flirt on occasion with her friends but neither of us every had the courage to ask each other out until one special night. Often time I would have to set up special events at our store because we were the go to Starbucks for kids birthdays and events etc. That day I had put balloons all over the store and I knew at some point I would need to take them down. Alyssa had come in that night with one of her friends Sheba. We talked and talked I had a few good laughs with the girls, they shared they were going to stay and study for a few in preparation for a upcoming exam. I plotted as to how I would go and engage in more conversation while looking as though taking down the balloons was my priority. I recalled something of interest from IG that Alyssa and I discussed a few times before and I went for the kill. I started taking down balloons and made my way towards the girls. I awkwardly commented on the IG topic while taking down balloons and Sheeba commented to the effect of how she noticed Alyssa and I had something in common. At this point I thought, wait a minute, is she here for something other than studying?! I felt that this was it, this was the invite to asking her for her IG! I thought it was a cool play because you seem desperate when one asks for the phone number. I also wanted to search her IG and see if I could find any similarities that we had in common to have more fun conversation starters. We exchanged info and that was it. From that awkward stare of what do I say or how do I do this to then 7 years later asking this beautiful, intelligent, bright sliver of sunshine to marry me. How I have been so blessed to be on this journey of life with Alyssa and I am grateful that I get to spend the rest of it with her. I love you Alyssa and will always compliment your nails and your gorgeous smile.