When I was moving back to Calgary from Vancouver I thought I'd plan ahead and line up some dates for when I was back in the city. I saw a profile with some good food, a very sad garden, and a group of dogs and thought it was worth a shot. I set up a date for the day after I arrived in Calgary (after a day of driving through a terrible blizzard in the Rockies) and was lucky enough to get there alive.

It was the winter solstice, we met a coffee shop (Higher Ground) where I made the mistake of buying her a green tea that kept her up all night, followed by going to the Lion's festival of lights and watching kids fall on ice, I definitely did not fall.

Fast forward past a few unusual moments like her letting a stranger (me) drive her to Safeway late at night, a funny looking dog behind the old Diner Deluxe, booking flights to Japan, and her falling asleep on the couch after showing her a movie I like...Until much like every love story of the time; COVID took over. One night she was planning to come over for dinner and I get a phone call about how weird the store is and my instruction to buy dried beans and medicine.

With the world changing around us, I was not too worried as I just wanted to be around 1 person. We made almost anything we were allowed to do an excuse to be together, Costco-Rica trips, cement gym building, crocheting, backyard smokeless fires, and some great weekends in Vernon. This is where I would meet most of her family for the first time and be re-assured I was quite secure in my manhood thanks to my pie making skills.

These COVID years went by fast, I was fly in fly out for work and we would have virtual movie dates. Hunting for a house, making sure she was involved to see each one hoping one day she would be sharing the house with me, even visiting the really gross ones with mice. She was dead set on getting a puppy which is a completely different love story.

Restrictions began to lift, giving us the opportunity to meet more and more people from each other's lives and experience life together, travelling, and events. A few years into our relationship and my memories weren't split between pre and post pandemic, but pre and post meeting Andrea. I could no longer think of my life without her.

At this point we of course knew a lot about each other, deep talks about our relationship, and what is important to each of us. She would show me what was important and not just practical. Like turning a house that made sense with low mortgage rates into a home we would enjoy spending time together at. The amount of love she would put into her relationships and fierce desire to make people hand made gifts that made them meaningful.

Of course we toyed about moving in with each other, and although likely to happen soon, needing home care after breaking my leg was as good a time as ever! It showed how much she would care for me when times are tough.

If you would have told me over 5 years ago on the darkest day of the year I'd be proposing to this girl at the same spot, my only hesitation would be not thinking I could be so lucky. On one knee in-front of a neon cowboy cooking bacon on an open fire may have been when she agreed to be my future wife, but from the first day I told her I love her and how important that was to me was the time I knew I was planning to marry her.

In December 2019, while swiping through profiles on my phone, I came across one that made me say to my roommate Karen, “this guy is either a weirdo, or super fun.” His profile featured a random assortment of blurry photos, but our conversation quickly turned light and funny.

On the Winter Solstice, we met at Higher Ground in Kensington for tea, a chat, and then walked around the Lion’s Festival of Lights. We laughed as everyone constantly slipped on the ice, stopped at Safeway for a ski pass, and then he drove me home. I remember thinking, “I got in a car with a stranger and showed him where I live.” But my gut knew it was okay.

We squeezed in a brunch on Christmas Eve a few days later, and I giddily kept to myself all of Christmas thinking about him. The next few months were a blur of museums, ice cream, bowling, dinners, and movies. And then suddenly the world shut down and took our normal dating life with it. Our time together became Costco trips, walks, cooking, and… more movies. We started doing the essentials together in our small bubble with Karen.

In hindsight, the silver lining of pandemic living was learning that we were compatible and could have fun doing the mundane things of life. We discovered new hobbies together… crocheting, nail art, woodworking, and making concrete gym weights (yikes).

We saw each other through multiple moves and living situations, eventually making space to bring home a puppy. Oslo joined our little family in May 2021 as Michael bought his first home. I’m not sure what is harder in a relationship… a global pandemic or home renovations. Looking back now, our home is a reflection of our growth together. It’s a product of our overlapping styles, many creative projects, and seeing a vision come to life. I give Michael most of the credit here… his handiwork skills really made the magic happen. Our home is my favourite place to be.

In the years we’ve been together, Michael has become my steady counterpart. His calm and logical approach helps ease me in the ups and downs. He is always looking out for my happiness – with a hot latte, a nutritious meal, or a custom home craft room. I admire how he shows up for the people around him with his time, energy, and resources.

Last year we travelled to Europe and confirmed what we already knew - we enjoy our life together. On our 5 year anniversary, Michael asked me to marry him back at the Festival of Lights. It was an easy yes. I can confirm - he is both fun AND a weirdo.