Love at first sight? More like love at first game of 20 questions...

Our favorite local spot was Boston's. In the year 2015, our mutual friend, Steven Short, introduced the two of us over a couple drinks and some friendly bar games. One of Erika's favorite games was 20 questions. The game was down to the wire. We were on question 19 and it was Greg's guess. If he didn't guess correctly, the game would be over and all would be lost. Greg had told Erika he was going to guess "toaster" as the "thing" that was being thought of by the question master. Erika thought that was an awful idea and told Greg he was a dummy if he were to guess toaster. The time was now, it was now or never... Kate asked Greg, "what's your guess, Greg?" Greg looked over at Erika and beamed towards her and said "It's a TOAAAAAAASTER!" The whole table stared at Kate in anticipation of the correct response. Low and behold, the correct answer was a "light bulb" and Greg was wrong, but Erika was enamored by Greg's confidence and killer smile (thank you, Dr. Dapice- Greg's dentist, his future mother in law's boss, "get some") and the story continues...

Erika and Greg were focusing on career growth and went their separate ways for a few years but continued to remain good friends.

In June 2023, we went on what would be considered our final first date at the MGM which reignited old passions with one another. In that time frame, months have flown by gratefully with many of dates, many of smiles, and many of days with pure happiness and joy. In Greg's proposal he choked up due to nerves. The words he wanted to get out were "Erika Kristen Prate, will you still keep me as happy as the day I first met you? Since then you have always been on my mind no matter what life threw our ways, The good or the bad. God has always had plans to turn you back to the person that makes you whole. That first day back in 2015, I've always cared for you and within time, I've grown to love you." Erika's response was a resounding, "YES!" with tears in her eyes.

And the story continues....

Hilton Garden Inn Solomons