January 3rd 2023 8:09 am:

I had been using Hinge off and on for awhile and not finding any luck, then I matched with the most gorgeous woman I had laid my eyes on. I pondered what would be my opening line to her. I kept returning to the picture of her smile and had to let her know how beautiful it was.

The line worked and we had spent the entire day talking off and on through the app, I finally got the nerves to ask for her number, and sure enough, she was dumb enough to give it to me.

We would talk on and off for the next two weeks, follow each other on Instagram to ensure we were real, and I had asked her out on dates multiple times, each time she would say no. "My sister is pregnant and I'm planning her shower." "Sorry, the shower is taking more time than I thought." At that time, I figured we would never connect and it would be a story of "what if."

January 14th 2023 10:32 pm:

I was doing what most people do when they are bored, looking through people's Instagram stories when her's appeared. The beautiful woman at her sister's baby shower. I knew I had another chance to speak to her again so I DM'ed her, "you're a good sister," hoping to start the conversation again. She responded, and we finally solidified a date.

January 17th 2023 7:02 pm:

It was the night of our first date. I was incredibly nervous. We decided to go to a nice Pizza place for our first date. My biggest issue is that I never heard her name out loud, so I had no idea how to say it. When we met in the parking lot, she was more gorgeous than her pictures showed. I immediately started sweating (luckily it was raining, so I used that as an excuse). We walked in and I said "two for Eisengruber," and she stated, "So that's how you say your last name..."

The waitress came out and asked if we wanted olives for the table, I hate olives but I figured she didn't so we both said sure. They arrived and neither of us went to grab one, find out, she was also being polite thinking I liked them.

We both couldn't decide on a pizza so we ordered two. We each ate maybe a piece and a half because we were so nervous, my roommate was the biggest winner of the night when I brought him back two basically full pizzas.

The rest of the date went well and we started seeing each other more often as the weeks went on. Even when we weren't together, we would talk on the phone 5-6 times a day when we weren't together.

August 23rd 2023 5:07 pm:

By this point, I am head over heels in love with Damaris. I have never been with a woman who is as supportive, loving, caring, funny, and beautiful as her. I decided to buy a ring to propose at the end of the year.

September 22nd 2023 7:04 pm:

I couldn't hold my excitement anymore. If anyone knows me, I cannot keep a secret. I knew she was the one for me and knew my life would be better with her in it. We went to a nice dinner, I was so nervous (I found out later she thought I was going to break up with her for how awkward I was being at dinner). After dinner I brought her back to my apartment's roof where I had candles lit in a heart shape and my roommate hiding to take pictures (shoutout to Devin). As soon as she opened the door, I blacked out. I have no idea what I said or what I did, all I can remember is the one word answer, "yes."

I have never been so happy to hear that word and I cannot wait to celebrate our love with all of you!

- James "the luckiest man in the world" Eisengruber