For those of you who don't know (or aren't from the Syracuse area), End Zone has the best chicken wings imaginable, second only to the bride's (but who can beat homemade?).

And as I'm sure anyone would agree, when you get a craving, it simply must be satisfied. Which is what brought James to park his delightful being at the End Zone on June 16th, 2021. Adrienn had just gotten off a loooong night at work and had her own hankering for crown apple, so her favorite dive was certainly in order...and chance would have it that only one seat was left, next to a handsome brooding-artist-vibe gentleman writing in his notebook.

Neither of these 2 lovebirds are particularly smooth at flirting, but Adrienn tried her damndest... "May I inquire as to what you're writing?" (That's as good as it gets, folks). So they strike up a conversation, hit it off, part ways with numbers and a goodbye kiss, and move along. After a few dates or so, James asks one night "Will you be my girlfriend" (so proper, am I right?) to which Adrienn naturally replied "nooooo."

Wonderful man that he is, though, James instead chose to stay in Adrienn's life and became her best friend.

Fast forward to March 2022, and Adrienn's life was shaken up, and naturally James was right beside her as always, with love and support when she needed it most. He soon became a fixture in her home, and eventually moved in. Neither of them were sure what would come of their friendship, but after a few months, it became so much more.

As much as that first year of friendship seems like a loss for their romance, it was the greatest blessing of time that we don't always have the luxury of, for them to both grow into the people they needed to become for a healthy relationship to last. And they finally found their person in each other, falling more in love each day.

As the talk of marriage (terrifying) came about, James began perusing rings, and Adrienn teased him that he could propose with a ring pop for all she cared--she knew she wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, bling or no bling.

So naturally, he called her bluff on February 9th, 2023...Sitting at home, relaxing like any other night, James asked Adrienn to read over part of a chapter in his novel relating to mental illness, so Adrienn being schooled in Psychology happily agreed, gave her input, and moved on. James had other ideas as he asked her "would you mind checking this one other section real quick?" Of course she agreed, read down, and stopped in her tracks and she saw the words "Adrienn Dagmar MacDougall will you marry me?" staring at her from the middle of the page. She looked to James, who simply grinned as he reached under the couch pillow to pull out a delicious ring pop in a jewelry box...SHE SAID YES!

As everyone can see by the GORGEOUS rock on her finger, he did replace the ring pop with something more stylist on March 17th, but still made a show of it (as handsome devils tend to do). He played a reprise of Adam Sandler's "Wanna Grow Old With You" and held his hand out for a dance, and after a few moments and a twirl, got down on one knee to ask her once more, holding a small wooden box he'd cleverly hidden shortly before, with the most stunning ring she could ask for.

And no matter how many times these crazy humans have asked each other, the answer remains the same, "Yes, I will marry you" as happy, glowing, and secure as the first moment they knew they were truly in love.

--The Beginning--