Mike and I were friends at RIT. We ran in a few of the same circles - Greek Life, Admissions, Orientation, all that jazz.

After college, we reconnected during the pandemic, via virtual game nights. In the fall of 2021, Mike was visiting Rochester for a friend's wedding. Being the gracious host and friend that I am, I offered him a place to crash and free rides... which I kept reminding him of until he finally asked if the offer still stood and that all the hotels were "sold out." Sure ;)

That's how it all began. I started going to visit him in Albany, and he would visit me in Rochester. Whenever I'd visit, Mike would pull out all the stops. I had no idea he was such a good cook, bartender, and pie baker. Every morning (to this day) he still greets me with fresh coffee.

By January 2023, I moved to Albany. In October 2023, Mike "tricked" me into planning a trip to the ADKs - which was all part of his secret master plan to propose. Mike had mentioned he'd never seen the Adirondacks in the fall, and I was determined to make it the best fall weekend ever for him... but I'm happy to say, he made it better than I could've imagined. And here we are.

Becky and I became friends during our time at RIT. After graduating, We went our separate ways. She went to Maryland to start a job at Total Wine and I went back home with the goal of finding work in NYC. For a while, it was only the occasional Snap story or meme exchange that kept us in contact.

The start of the pandemic got us talking regularly again. We started a weekly virtual game night with some friends. They were a lot of fun and I looked forward to them each week. Somewhere between the complex math of Azul and schooling Becky at Codenames, I found myself developing what some might call a crush on the cute blonde girl on my screen. Now I never thought of acting on it. I had no real reason to suspect she felt the same and we were living in different states, so what were the odds it was even feasible?

As our game nights went on, Becky returned to Rochester, NY for a different job and I moved to Albany for work. These changes gave us the opportunity to see each other when I was going to Rochester for a friend's wedding. Becky offered to let me stay with her and I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to accept the invitation. Others may say that should've been a sign to me. It's easier to read between the lines for the reader than the characters they're reading about.

They were right though. On the last day of that weekend I found out that she felt the same way I did. Through a fog of disbelief and relief for both of us, we decided to give it a try. She would come see me on the weekends and vice versa. Slowly, she stayed in Albany for longer periods of time until we agreed to move in together. It wasn't long after that I knew I wanted to marry her.

I bought the ring in June of last year and, yes, made her think the Adirondack trip was her idea. I played how I felt about marriage close to the chest during that time and I am lucky that Becky is a patient and understanding soul. I'll never forget the look on her face as I knelt on one wet knee on that rainy, almost stormy day between two lakes. It made the wait worth it.

Now we're here and I can honestly say I've never been more certain of any decision I've made in my life. I just wish the day would get here sooner so I can finally call Becky my partner for life!