It was November 3rd 2020, Election Night. COVID-19 was in full swing. Both of us were in need of a distraction and were skeptically exploring the dating app called Hinge. Neither of us believed in online dating, and so far the app was doing nothing to change those opinions. Dave was on his last bored swipe. Annie promised she would look at three more profiles before uninstalling.

Two things piqued her interest.

1. An attractive guy unabashedly kissing his cat. (This photo now hangs in our home.)

2. Hockey....everywhere.... in the pictures, the icebreaker questions, the likes.

Annie liked a photo and said "Hockey and cats, seems like we have a lot in common." (A picture of Annie's cats was featured prominently on her profile.)

Dave responded with "If I only ever know one thing, I need to know the names of your cats."

This kicked off many messages. We quickly exchanged numbers and got off the app. Within five days of matching we knew we wanted to meet.

How do two people meet at the height of a global pandemic when nearly all businesses are no contact?

One of them breaks every safe dating rule known to women and invites the guy to her house, the other, agrees.

Enter concerned parents and friends performing PI worthy internet searches and strongly suggesting text message check-ins every 20 minutes to avoid a first date turned Dateline episode.

We had our first date on November 8th, 2020. Annie forgot the text message check-ins one hour in, and Sandy and Mike somehow made it another six hours until Annie called, alive, safe, and very excited.

That first date felt natural, there were some nerves of course (Annie was so flustered trying to cook with Dave in her postage stamp kitchen she turned on the wrong burner and dropped the spatula....twice.) Dave for his part was too nervous to go in for a kiss through two whole movies. Annie finally made the move at the end of the seven hour date neither of them wanted to end.

Since then we've spent no more than a week apart at a time. A little less than three months in, Dave's roommate got COVID and his landlord was fixing floors. His cats needed somewhere to stay, Dave needed to stay away from his roommate. Dave and his two cats stayed at Annie's. One week turned into two, then a month. After that everyone liked the arrangement and he never went back. Two cats each meant a blended family of six.

Since then we've had so many amazing highs, and held together through really tough lows.

We put in an offer on a house, and then very unexpectedly lost Dave's mom, Sandy, in August of 2022. Only one day after her passing our offer was accepted despite being the lower offer. Thanks Mama Sandy for the Angel Dust! We poured our grief into renovating our new home with the help of our families. This bittersweet time really helped us think about priorities. We finished our beautiful home and started looking at rings.

On February 11, 2023 we got engaged. Like much of our story it was rather unplanned and we decided together during an impromptu trip to look at rings. Dave and Annie both knew when they found a genuine vintage art deco ring in their tight budget on an unseasonably warm day it was meant to be. Annie's parents were called from the jewelers and Dave's mom's beautiful spirit was felt in the blinding sunlight that warmed us as we said yes.

In March 2023 Dave caved to Annie begging for a puppy as an engagement present. We brought Cricket home in April. We have spent the last couple years loving her and training her to be Annie's service dog. She has surpassed all expectations. She loves her feline siblings and welcomes the animals we foster for our humane society.

The loss of Dave's dad, Don, in June 2024 was heartbreaking. We have loved each other through it, and now support several mental health and suicide awareness causes.

We feel so blessed to have so many people to celebrate with this August. We can't wait to have everyone gathered for this happy occasion. Thank you, we love you!