This story begins years before we even started dating when we both found out that we were the only two people that saw (and loved) the early 2000's rom-com classic, Serendipity, starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. The film evidently is about fate. Fate that the two lead characters picked up a pair of black cashmere gloves at the same time. And fate that they would eventually find each other again through clues that they left one another in the universe. For him, writing his name and number on a five dollar bill. For her, writing her name and number on the inside of Gabriel García Márquez's novel, "Love in the Time of Cholera." Serendipity, the iconic frozen hot chocolate shop in New York (which is featured in the movie), is the location where Matthew asked Leanna to be his girlfriend. It is also where they spent their first two dating anniversaries. Due to a global pandemic and a move to Portland, we weren't able to go to New York for our third anniversary. Instead on March 27, 2021, we went on a weekend getaway, where Matthew, with a hollowed out copy of "Love in the Time of Cholera," which enclosed a five dollar bill (that Leanna had randomly given him... fate!) and a pair of black cashmere gloves (with the ring inside one of the gloves), got down on one knee and asked Leanna to marry him.

Friends for four years, acquaintances really. A friendly Snapchat DM. And a friendly happy hour invitation that took over a year to happen. We went to happy hour together at Doraku Sushi on Lincoln Road in July 2017. Leanna was apprehensive so she asked her friend, Dominique, to join them. But luckily, she couldn't make it. A few hours later, Matthew called his friend, Peter, and said, "Man, am I in trouble now." From then on, we were inseparable... via text. A hurricane, an airport pickup, and a movie date later. In November 2017, we took a trip to New York together, as friends. We went to Serendipity for dinner, were seated at the table that was featured in the movie (fate!), and left the restaurant, where while waiting for an Uber around midnight on a grimy New York sidewalk, Matthew decided to ask Leanna to be his girlfriend. In March 2018, Matthew moved to Boston. Leanna followed a few months later (sometimes following a boy does work out). And in November 2020, we made another (final) move to Portland together, with our fluffy tri-colored corgi, Thomas.