It was not love at first sight. He came in for physical therapy to my clinic at the time. I thought he was cute, with a warm personality. I was pursuing running a Spartan race at the time, and he leaned full tilt into that to "train together"--aka, try to go on a date. I interpreted that as actually "training". I was not interested in dating him at first, and I made that clear. Something that still stands out to this day for me is that he was very good with his levelheaded response to that initial rejection. He was also the only guy who would call me instead of just texting to communicate, so color me impressed. We started spending time training together, going to farmer's markets, eating brunch, etc., and then COVID hit. Sometime in the middle of that, we started officially dating. He was easy to be around, a steadiness for my more scattered self. I remember the first time he called me his girlfriend was after we had talked about it and it was in front of his friends--probably Waylon was there, I can't remember now. What a thrill. :) Then, shortly after, I had a massive knee surgery that was botched, which turned into 2 more surgeries within the year. Chronic pain makes you an angry, depressed person if you let it, and I struggled really hard for the better part of a year to be even a shadow of my self. I was truly expecting him to leave me at some point in there, but he stayed, for whatever reason. I guess we were destined to be around each other during surgeries. I think a lot of our early dating time was truly set up with harder trials and demons to conquer to allow us to see the reality of doing life with someone--and to appreciate the depth of who we are and where we've been. It honestly took us closer to 1.5 years of dating before we looked at each other and realized we were truly committed. We had said 'I love you" prior to that point (I SAID IT FIRST), but I don't think either one of us was serious about commitment. Around that 1.5 year mark, though, I realized I loved him and couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else. I would also tell anyone I wasn't looking to get married, but he became my one exception. I also tell people I chose him because of Boomer. Which is maybe partially true. ;) We've traveled to both sides of the States and been to my European homeland together, and he's my favorite adventure partner. He makes me laugh, challenges me to grow, and is easy on the eyes. He's a stand-up man full of character and an openness to learn and to be uncomfortable. As someone who has also lived cross-culturally, that openness to understanding where others come from and why they might be different is huge to me. I also value our desire to let each other be ourselves, and to do what we love. Sometimes I think people didn't know if we were still dating because we are so independent and can do what we want by ourselves. :) Getting engaged was terrifying and exciting all at once. It is a big change for both of us to fully live our lives together after being single through our mid-30s. I did offer for him to move in with Carra (my roommate) and I, since we come as a packaged deal; he did not think that was funny. :) I'm so thrilled we get to choose each other over and over again until our bones are bleached in the sun (you had to be at the engagement shoot for that). My ride-or-die, my best friend--let's do this thing!