We were both on Match.com when fate stepped in. I was on the verge of deleting my account when my cousin encouraged me to give it one last try. That "one last try" turned out to be AJ.

We connected on October 13th and had our first date on November 11th, 2022, at Brewskie's Coffee Shop in Asheboro, NC. What started as a casual lunch quickly turned into hours of effortless conversation. The best part? It felt like our 50th date rather than our first—it was that natural and easy.

What truly sealed the deal, though, was discovering we both love animals more than people… seriously, it’s no contest!

We’re both originally from Chicago and share a love for Da Bears, the Cubs, and the Blackhawks. Our careers have also been dedicated to helping others. AJ is a retired Chief Petty Officer and served as a Crew Chief with the Blue Angels. Claudia is a special education teacher with 22 years in the classroom and is nearing 10 years as an exceptional children assistant director/coordinator.

Our relationship works because we both put purposeful effort into making it work. We are intentional about prioritizing each other and nurturing the love and connection we share.

From that first date, we’ve spoken every single day, and that hasn’t changed since.

Things to Do coming soon!