Our story began when a friend introduced us in passing at a conference in 2018. At the time, Madeleine was starting graduate work at Notre Dame, while Luke was pursing his doctorate at the University of Chicago. We reconnected in 2020, in the midst of Covid lockdowns. Luke was teaching in Paris while Madeleine teaching in Philadelphia, and we were writing back and forth about our favorite books. We soon found ourselves on three-hour phone calls, delving into anything and everything. We loved talking together, and after several great discussions about Alasdair MacIntyre, our favorite wines, and Chestnut Hill architecture, Luke took an 8-hour long train ride to Philadelphia on a hot August day to take Madeleine on their first official date, just before she was set to depart for a year of work in Erbil, Iraq and Luke for another year in Paris. In spite of mediocre tiramisu, paper plate-ed entrees, and 100 degree weather that first evening, we agreed to meet up again in the morning for breakfast at Sabrina's by the Art Museum. We spent close to four hours sitting outdoors in the rain, continuing to talk and planning Madeleine's first visit from Iraq to Paris. That Fall, she would spend several early mornings on discount flights from Erbil to Paris to visit Luke. Luke was also able to visit Madeleine in Iraq, and, in spite of shaky Wi-Fi connections, unpredictable internet outages, and 2,000 miles of distance, we fell further and further in love. We knew we wanted to be in the same city and, eventually, marry. On March 17, 2023, Luke took Madeleine on a cryptic date to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. While strolling through the Museum gardens, Luke got down on one knee and asked Madeleine to be his bride! Of course, she said yes. The couple are planning to spend their first year of marriage in South Bend, IN, as Luke continues to pursue research and teaching at Notre Dame.