Bethany’s POV:

We met at the most unlikely of times in the most unlikely of circumstances with a conversation that was most unlikely to endear us to each other. But sometimes a nationwide lockdown, feeling isolated in a city of millions, and a heated argument about the best movie trilogy ever made is exactly what two introverted nerds need to find their perfect life partner. Well…at least it was for us anyway!

We met in Chicago where I had a couple more years of graduate school left and Andrew was working nights in an ICU throughout a pandemic. Not an ideal situation of course, but we made it work and our love and commitment grew. We watched Broadway musicals and did trivia nights together. He taught me how to play both pool and video games. We shared our endless love of movies, nachos, and Legos. I found out that I loved cooking for him and bringing him coffee. He found out that he loved my cat. He was my person. And when I admitted that I wanted to accept a job offer in Missouri of all places, my heart was in my throat, wondering if he would uproot his life and follow me. But he didn’t even hesitate. We belong together. We make each other better.

A proposal via a competitive board game was more than perfect! A full circle back to the sense of competition and passion that drew us to each other in the first place. (A beginning argument, I will point out, that we’ve still not resolved - although I am right and always have been!) We are so excited to celebrate with everyone and we appreciate everyone’s support as we continue to grow together!

“I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of the world alone.”

-Tolkien (The Fellowship of the Ring)

Andrew’s POV:

Imagine a world where human interactions were shunned, the only people you could see where those you lived with, or in my case, worked with, and life as you know it became work, heal, survive. Welcome to the life of an ICU nurse in the middle of a pandemic in one of nation's largest cities. Despite all the doom and gloom, I happened upon a small bit of hope, warmth, and peace residing in a graduate student doing her best to maintain her sanity like me. Oh and there was a orange tabby who had something to say about this whole situation too.

To both our benefits, being a "nerd" was finally cool and we bonded over countless topics while introducing each other to our own passions. It still amazes me that the first two to three weeks of our new found relationship was through text due to quarantine. Yet I believe that strengthened our bond even more because we could only be our true selves to each other and that kept us coming back to learn and grow.

I thought I blew my chance while rambling about Star Wars during our first face to face date. Little did I know I was spilling my nerdy guts to my person. When I found out that her time in Chicago was ending and she was moving on to the world of academia, I knew big questions and big changes were around the corner. However, my questions were a matter of Where and When not If and Why. We survived a two day move, a year living together, and now look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.

It is our honor and pleasure in getting to celebrate this joyous occasion with friends and family.

"I love you." "I know."

- Leia and Han (The Empire Strikes Back)

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