A Letter to the Editor:

Babe,

Our story… hmm. If you asked me casually to write our story I wouldn’t hesitate to think that I could do it quickly and succinctly; that it would flow right off the tip of my tongue - as you know I typically have no issue with going on and on about the things I love.. But placed within such a meaningful context and the way it stirs up the emotions that make me so grateful for you - I know I am going to edit it a thousand times (I have already lost count lol).

The unfathomable number of events that had to happen exactly the way they did for our story to even begin is, by itself, a reason to cherish it.. But what it has become and inevitably will be has made devoting my life to you, to us, and to our family the easiest decision I have ever made.

I love you more than words could ever describe, I appreciate you trusting me to write this, and I know you will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you.

- Ant



The Story of Us

Our story begins with a jack man. Yes.. a NASCAR jack man.. More specifically, an article on NASCAR’s Facebook page about the contract this African American jack man had just signed, and a comments section overflowing with the racist vitriol the NASCAR fanbase is unfortunately known for. Inside these comments, we initially fought separate battles to distance a sport we both love from its racist roots, glancing over each other’s statements in agreement before landing in the same thread at the same time.

A message request was sent & accepted, and a conversation began that neither of us imagined at the time would have such a meaningful and lasting impact. It started as a friendly, on-topic discussion but quickly branched out as we realized how much we had in common. Day after day we learned more about each other, and those messages became phone calls, and those phone calls became video chats bracketed by constant communication.

Our presence in each other’s lives grew to be a staple of our daily routines, and it became more evident with each interaction that we had something incredibly special.. something that demanded more than letters and images on a screen. And so those texts and phone calls and video calls finally became a date. One day. 24 hours - just to be sure that this connection we shared could transcend from the digital into the physical.

After a 1300 mile journey and prior to one night in the heart of Manhattan - our first date began at the airport (several hours later than initially planned because *someone* had missed their flight - I did not let the first indication that we would be late for practically every event ever deter me). From second one of minute one it was evident that this was meant to be. To say that our initial embrace felt “right” is massively understating it, but we will go with it since the words to properly describe it do not exist. Time seemed to stand still as everything around us faded away. Nothing else mattered in that moment, and it is one of our favorite memories.

We explored and dined hand in hand, locked in step - appearing to any and all as if we had been together for years - and the city glowed in acknowledgment of the shower of sparks we had together become.

Those sparks have grown into a raging inferno as our love has reached levels that neither of us thought existed - the flames eternal and burning brighter every day to reveal more of this path the universe has placed us on together. Our love, dedication, and devotion to one another an expression of gratitude for the myriad of metaphorical dice rolls that had to land exactly as they did for our story to be written at all.

We are best friends. We are partners. We are soulmates. We are binary stars. We are an anomalous constant surrounded by infinite chaos; destined to meet in the next life as we have in this one and those before it…
And we cannot wait for you to join us in celebration on the day we become husband and wife.

- Ant & Val