Justin and Amber’s story begins - like so many these days – via a dating app on their phones. Amber’s profile -reflecting her academic pursuits – was the most thorough Justin had ever seen; he not only swiped right but sent a coveted “super-like” and held his breath for a response. One came on July 4th. They shared pictures of fireworks.

On their first Zoom date they watched the movie Monuments Men, which combined Amber’s interest in art with Justin’s interest in sitting on his couch. On their first in-person date, the went to the Cincinnati Art Museum and took turns critiquing the info boxes – Amber looking for accuracy and Justin for grammar and readability. Later Justin got scolded by a deli clerk for failing to properly operate the credit card machine. On their third date, they went to the Cincinnati Zoo to watch Christmas lights and were nearly frozen to the seat of a metal train. Amber was actually quite comfortable.

A year later on New Year’s Eve Justin was nearly thawed. Right after the clock struck 12 and the ball dropped, he got down on one knee in Amber’s living room. He had written a notecard out so he could keep his thoughts in order, and upon reflection has little memory of what he said other than asking Amber to marry him. He was lucky enough that Amber said YES!

Courtyard Hamilton