Keeping up with the modern times I downloaded Bumble. In a truly exhausting game of Swipe Left and Swipe Right, an interesting bee popped up that I couldn't chance passing up. To my delight "You Matched!" appeared. Soon thereafter a flowing conversation filled with laughter, banter, and charm followed. Matt was just different. There was no awkwardness, only excitement and a desire to learn more! Our schedules did not quite align until about 2 weeks later when we went on our first date. I remember a weird sense of calm but felt the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. We had a wonderful dinner and by the end I knew we would see each other again. Our second date lasted around 6 hrs. 2 weeks later we were officially dating. We have always said it feels like we have known each other for years. I never knew you could fall in love so quickly. In the cliche statement of "when you know, you know." I knew. By May we were in love. Two years later we will be saying "I do" to celebrate what was so obvious on meeting. I truly can't wait to spend forever with my best friend.

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Mattie,

I've never quite met anyone like you. I remember laying awake at night wondering if I ever would. I never could have dreamed up all the qualities that make you the wonderful man you are today. You are loving, so lighthearted, and truly make every day of my life and those around you better. Your constant support makes me feel that I can tackle anything. No task feels too daunting after hearing your words of encouragement that you continuously give. Your laugh is infectious and even when I don't feel like smiling that never lasts long with you by my side. You give me a sense of peace that feels like home. Thank you for making life an adventure. I have never been more excited for what our future holds. 5.18.24.

In the early evening of March 19th I was laying on my couch having another mundane night at home watching one of my shows, when all of a sudden, my phone makes a ding. I think nothing of it as my phone makes noise all day, little did I know that this ding would be the best one I’ve ever heard and would change the course of my life completely.

I open my phone to view the notification and it reads “you have matched with Danielle”. I am intrigued by it but nothing more… until I open up to the app. There she is. This beautiful woman, smiling in all her glory expressing nothing but happiness, the girl I very much remember swiping right on a few days earlier. My excitement can’t be contained that this wonderful woman thinks that I, with my 3 posted photos, and very limited information am worthy of a match!

We immediately start texting each other and from the very beginning it was clear that we were connected somehow. We talked about our lives and jokes and all the awkward little things that people do. Like how my favorite color is purple… and so is hers! My anticipation and excitement to ask her to go out on a date with me was growing exponentially, I had to meet her, I had to get to know her more in person. But I have a sister and sisters have birthdays and sisters have birthday parties in Atlanta… so it had to wait! But that didn’t stop us from talking and texting every day that I was gone. The party was an excellent time but at every moment she was on my mind, thinking about how I couldn’t wait to get home and officially ask her out on a date!

A few more days pass and I finally work up the nerve to ask her and to my absolute delight she says yes! We discuss what to do and she informs me that she is big on trying new restaurants and new foods, which as anyone who knows me will know made my heart beat faster, but also made my stomach knot as I think to myself “I can’t screw this up!”. I come up with a few choices and we do some talking as Danielle, as I would come to find out, did her patented research on the subject lol. And we chose a new local Birmingham establishment – Blueprint on 3rd. Little did I know that this restaurant would serve as the blueprint of our lives.

The day comes, April 4th I am sitting in my car outside of the restaurant A/C on full blast because I am freaking out and want to make sure I don’t sweat through my button up shirt in the middle of Alabama April right before she sees me! I didn’t forget deodorant, did I? Is my zipper up? Shoes tied? My mind is racing with excitement and nervousness! I do one last ocular pat down and decide it’s the best it’s going to be and slowly walk to the front door of the restaurant examining the parking lot in hopes that I can see her car (didn’t know what she drove at the time) and see her sitting inside doing the same thing I was. No dice. I confirm our reservation with the hostess and take a seat outside on the front bench.

Not long after my phone dings and it reads “Danielle Bumble” … hadn’t changed her contact info yet! And the text reads “I’mhere. Walking up now”, I can barely contain myself., do I keep sitting? Do I stand? What about that deodorant I really can’t remember?! I look over to the corner and like a movie scene the sky breaks and the last bit of the setting sun falls on us. I see her! This beautiful awe-inspiring woman walking towards me, and there was no mistaking her as we made eye contact and I could see that gorgeous smile light the street up more than the sun.

We hug and explain pleasantries and walk inside. We get sat at a table outside in our very own corner of the restaurant. She asked me if I planned it that way and as much as I wanted to come off as that suave, I told her it was just luck, but even myself thought it may mean something… how right I was.

We order drinks and appetizers galore and she couldn’t be happier, and neither could I. Our conversations were great, I wanted to hear every word she had to say and more. She captured my attention from the moment I saw her and never let go!

As our main entrees arrive, we scan over them. Both look delicious but mine definitely took the 1st place prize. She shyly asked me “can’t I try some of that?” I happily oblige as I am just elated to be having a food trying extravaganza with this beautiful woman! She tries my meal, the scallops, and she proceeds to steal my entire plate! Does a switch-a-roo of our entrees as she did her little giggle, mouth half full of food…my food!! Normally in this instance I would have said something, played the UNO reverse card and taken my plate back, but for some reason, a reason that I will always cherish, in that moment, I knew that I wanted to see her again, that I wanted to know everything and all about this wonderful person. In that moment I knew she was special, and I would do everything I could to hold on to her forever.

And since then and always I love everything about her, even sharing my food…