In April 2021, I went over to my coworkers house to hangout, and to my surprise their roommate, Joe, was there. We had an immediate connection, he even invited me to play cup pong. Somehow, I managed to beat him. He was the real winner though, because he now had my phone number.

The very next day, Joe got a puppy and flooded my phone with pictures of Millie, knowing I had a dog too.

The real turning point, though, came when Joe agreed to visit my parents house for our dogs to meet. We had decided we were just friends, and I told my parents not to invite him to dinner to avoid any awkwardness. Naturally, my mom ignored this and invited him anyway. Joe not only stayed for dinner but also stuck around afterward to watch a movie. It was during this “doggy play-date” that my mom’s meddling helped us realize our connection was more than just a friendship.

We went on our first official date to Chili’s on May 5th, 2021. By May 23rd, I was running a 5k with him, despite not having run in years, just to impress him. And on July 5th, 2021, he asked me to be his girlfriend.

In November 2022, my grandfather pulled me aside to say “Don’t lose this one.” This advice has echoed in my mind, and I made sure I didn’t.

From Rochester, NY to the shores of the Bahamas, we explored the world together. As we continue this journey, I am so grateful for this love that is as wonderful as the destinations we’ve explored together.

I was living on Park Ave in Rochester, NY with a few roommates in 2021. It was during this time that I was lucky enough to meet this energetic, funny, and beautiful blonde girl that wasn’t afraid to play drinking games with my roommates. We both had dogs, so I obviously used my dog as a reason to hangout and talk to her. I was immediately drawn to Aerin and I always felt so comfortable and confident being around her. It wasn’t long before Aerin’s Mom treated me to a homemade Constantino meal. I was hooked not only on the girl, but on the FOOD. I knew I had to hold on to this one.

My relationship with Aerin grew strong, fast. It has been filled with a lot of traveling, taking care of 2 dogs together, always joking and making sure to stay close with friends. The most important thing to both of us is Family, and that has been an undisputed value on both sides.

Aerin is the type of girl that can make everyone around her happy. That is exactly what she has done when meeting all of my friends and family. She is my biggest supporter and makes me a better person everyday. Honestly, waiting 3 years to propose was too long because it was the easiest decision of my life.