J - I was in Texas for Christmas break, enjoying my annual reunion with college girlfriends. Niki pulled me aside and said, “I know you’ve been wanting to meet someone, and have had trouble with that in Ithaca. I know a really great guy from our time in Austin. He’s not ready - he’s going through some things - but when the dust settles, would you be open to me setting you up? I think you’d hit it off.” I said, sure, what have I got to lose? And I didn’t give it much thought after that. Eighteen months later, Niki said, hey, do you remember that guy? Can I set up an online game night? H - I was several months into my recovery from cancer when my friend, Niki, called me and said she had the perfect person for me. She told me about her friend Jessica. She lived in upstate NY and was looking at starting nursing school soon. She had been in the Peace Corps and was overall an incredible person. I held onto that for a few months before texting Niki, "If you want to be Yenta, be Yenta." She did and set up the online game night that turned into several hours of amazing conversation with Jessica and we were off and running. Thank you Niki!!

J - I’m practical to a fault. I lived in New York. He lived in Kentucky. Why would I start talking to a guy in Louisville? Well, it was November 2020. I was isolated in my apartment, and by then, hanging out online and sustaining relationships remotely was the way we socialized. So, silver lining of the pandemic… we all found new ways to spend time with each other. When I drove to Dallas that December, I stopped in Louisville to meet in person. Neither of us had done much in-person anything, so that made the meeting feel extra giddy and nerve wracking. Our first date was at Time 4 Thai (still a favorite). When he visited his mom in Dallas in February, we spent our first full day together hiking, visiting the Bishop Arts District, and going to a brewery with my sister and brother-in-law. When I drove home to NY in May, I stopped in Louisville for a weeklong visit. From there, we were an item and did a lot of back and forth visiting. H - Thankfully(?), the pandemic had normalized interacting remotely which opened up new opportunities for us to hang out 3 states apart. We watched movies and plays together with one of us sharing our screen or would just hang out together online. Jessica wanted me to add that I would quiz her on her anatomy and physiology homework. She was a big fan of that. (True story!-ja). We also both love to travel and met up in New York or Texas or Michigan or met in the middle in Pittsburgh.

H - Last year for our summer vacation we went up to Ludington, MI and spent the first week with Jessica's family. We had a blast walking the break wall, exploring the state park, and eating ice cream from the House of Flavors. When that week was up, we crossed Lake Michigan on the Badger and went camping up in the Upper Peninsula. Our relationship survived the tests of “Putting up the Tent” and “The Air Mattress that Won’t Hold Air.” I was impressed by Jessica’s determination that not even driving wind and pounding rain at our campsite was going to ruin our fun. J - While the camping trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 2022 was extra special, I really treasure that first trip Harry made to Michigan in 2021. As my parents’ hometown, Ludington is a very special place for me. He let me know it was important to him, too. My family isn’t known for being quiet or shy or small, and he really did well holding his own and making a good impression with the uncles and aunts. What’s more, at the end of the week, he said not only did he feel welcome, he felt like he belonged. That meant the world to me.

H - We had our first face to face date in December 2020 when Jessica drove from Ithaca to Texas for the holidays and stopped in Louisville at the halfway point. I took her out to eat at a great Thai restaurant and we enjoyed the evening holding hands and walking down Frankfort Ave. I walked Jessica back to her Airbnb and we didn’t want the night to end. We ended up dancing in the kitchen. As we swayed back and forth, Jessica began humming the tune of “A Kiss to Build a Dream On,” the same song that I had been thinking of too. I danced out of the apartment that night on cloud nine knowing Jessica was really amazing. J - Some time earlyish on in our relationship, I was on a Sunday group call with my college girlfriends, chatting. I remember asking, “so, am I done? Did I find him?” Everything felt so easy and a lot of the compatibility check boxes were getting marked off. That let me know we were headed in a good direction. Along the way, there have been so many acts of service and love - like reading my application for nursing school or sending thoughtful cards or driving a moving van to Louisville. He’s a special guy and lets me know I’m special to him, too.

H - Jessica has this super power where she turns the warm light of her curiosity on to someone and makes them the absolute center of her attention for the duration of the conversation. I saw this in action for the first time when we were at the wedding of one of her friends in Colorado. Jessica struck up a conversation with the photographer as she was walking around taking pictures of people having a good time. Jessica asked things like “how did you get into professional photography?” and “what do you find most fulfilling about it?” Her curiosity together with the genuineness of her compassion are a true gift to the world. For this and for so many other reasons, I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be in her life and to have her in mine. J - A year after I moved across the country for him... he proposed! That sealed the deal "officially," but seriously, we had a good first year together in Louisville. By finally living in the same city, we grew and shared more of ourselves and our lives. For the most part, it was a smooth transition. His community of friends welcomed me with open arms, for which I’m so thankful. In spite of all the changes going on in my life - new city, new career field, delaying the start of school - Harry remained a steady, patient presence. After many months grieving my church in Ithaca, Harry supported my desire to begin an intentional search for a new church home. It’s not that his church wasn’t full of wonderful people, but I needed something different and something that was ours. He put my needs and happiness first, and through the process of searching, we grew closer as a couple.

J - He tells me to go to bed. We pray together. He loves my family and they love him, too. We help and encourage each other. I feel seen and appreciated (even celebrated) for who I am. He’s never made me feel like I have an unreasonable affection for my cats, because he’s just as attached as I am (if not more). I deeply respect Harry’s work in hospice and the resilience and growth he’s shown over the years. I enjoy supporting Harry in his ministry. Harry has many layers and interests - some of them uber nerdy - and I love that about him. He is a deeply kind man, and he is gifted at friendship. He and I are a great team in the kitchen and garden or on a road trip. Life feels more fun and full when sharing it with him. H - Jessica loves cats. She loves to be outdoors. A good day for her begins with coffee and morning sunlight on the patio, and NPR. She cares about the world around her and wants to make it better. She has a smile like the sunshine on a warm spring day. She encourages me to be myself even when I am super nerdy and loves me for it. She challenges me to become the best version of myself I have it within me to become. Life is more fun and more full when sharing it with Jessica.