Eric/Tanya didn't know they were going to meet their future wife/husband in South Side Pittsburgh on Saint Patty's Day 2014, but they did. Though, it isn't a story you'd read in a fairy tale...

"I want to take you on a date" blurted Eric over the din of a busy party at their mutual friend's house.

"What?!?" asked Tanya shocked.

"I want to take you on a date!" Eric repeated.

"No you don't!" Tanya replied.

"No, I do. You're cute" Eric continued, filled with liquid courage.

"Well, you've been drinking and we just met...we'll see..." Tanya said, hoping that it would stop this stranger from bothering her.

But Eric doesn't give up easily. For the rest of the day, Eric followed Tanya around like a lost puppy, never leaving her side. Eventually, he wore her down.

"I'll give you my number. If you still want to go on a date after you wake up tomorrow, we'll go on a date..."

Sure enough, Eric did wake up the next day. Just about as soon as he was able to operate like a functional human being, he sent a text to Tanya that read:

"So when are we going on that date?"

Two days later, Tanya and Eric had their first date: Watching a Penguins game at Carson City Saloon (Tanya's idea). The day before the date, Eric realized that despite being a Penguins fan, he didn't own any Penguins apparel. He raced down to Dick's Sporting Goods to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, the store was picked clean, so Eric blindly picked the last Penguins shirt in his size and bought it.

When they finally met for their first date, each of them wore their Pens gear. Tanya wore a game-worn Penguins practice jersey complete with nicks and black scuffs. Eric wore a brand new Penguins shirt...with a giant SHINY Penguin in the front. Both of them had a blast, and not once did Tanya mention that it looked like Eric was wearing a women's shirt. Eric returned the shirt the next day...

Since then, Tanya and Eric have been dating for over four years. They've had great times together: Traveling across the country together, camping in the Adirondaks, and going to sporting events. Tanya has stuck with Eric through trying times as he finished his PhD, and times of transition as they moved to Rome, NY as Eric took on a new job.

Please come and celebrate as Tanya and Eric reach the next milestone in their life-long journey together!

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