Ed and Hayley met as so many couples do: online. Ed opened with a pun about a Baked Alaska, making Hayley chuckle as she was stuck sleeping at Newark Airport. Checking his profile, Hayley saw a nice photo of him in a big sweater. A mutual interest was born!

After some messaging, some flirting, and Ed briefly thinking Hayley was Greek, they decided to meet up for drinks in Greenwich Village.

Hayley arrived early and stood waiting on the corner of MacDougal and Bleeker. She soon saw a familiar, smiling face walking towards her. Locking eyes, Ed began an excited little trot to the corner.

Upon saying hello, Hayley noticed Ed had lost weight since his photos, and Ed noticed Hayley's lovely (not Greek) accent.

They had drinks at a bar Ed recommended called The Peculiar Pub. Was Ed setting the tone for the relationship with this choice? Who is to say?

Hayley is, and she says yes.

After some drinks and some joking, Hayley had to go. She was meeting a friend for a comedy show down the street, making Ed like her even more!

After the show, Hayley was taking the train back to Jersey when she received a message on her phone. It was Ed! He messaged asking if she was traveling back, and if so would she like some (digital) company?

This ends the first date. Not with a hug and a goodbye, but two smiling lovebirds messaging from afar, increasingly looking forward to seeing each other again.

Some quick highlights from Ed and Hayleys courtship so far:

1. Hayley utterly dominated Ed at Ping-pong.
2. Ed was offered free bathroom cocaine (not by Hayley) when out to dinner. He declined.
3. The couple shared a first kiss in Central Park. While facing each other, Ed could see Hayley with the Natural History Museum acting as her backdrop. Hayley could see Ed was next to a garbage bin.

Now, Ed and Hayley had a fun night planned: a nice sushi dinner followed by bowling. A real East meets East Meadow date night.

The bowling alley was having a blacklight night bowl. Ed scored the best game of his life (223!) and the couple went to the alleys bar for a cocktail.

The cocktails can only be describes as orbs of booze. Picture a fortune tellers crystal ball full of rum and blue curacao.

Hayley took a moment to let her friends know she was having a good time, messaging Becky How do I undrunk myself? Ed did not know this until later into the relationship.

Leaving the alley, Ed and Hayley took a walk along Chelsea Piers, eventually stopping to watch the river and enjoy the cool fall air.

It was a beautiful evening. It was enough to bring a man down to one knee.

Not Ed of course. At least not yet. This is in reference to the jogger that would not stop lunging behind them for the rest of this story.

Ed turned to Hayley and nervously asked So...when can I start calling you my girlfriend?

Hayley replied Last week!

Thus began a wonderful, dutifully-labeled relationship. They still exchange a loving look whenever they pass by the pier, or see a jogger stretch to prevent cramping.

Hayley had been thinking a proposal might be in the works, ever since she and Ed picked-out an engagement ring. She's good at picking up subtle hints like that.

In July 2022, she and Ed had a week-long trip to Niagara planned. Hayley thought that this might be the week, because Ed had a telling and romantic look in his eye as he specifically said it would be that week. Subtle hint!

The one question was what day it would be. Hayley's guess was that it would be during the fireworks on the 4th of July. Very partiotic! Unfortunately she would have to wait a bit longer. Ed couldn't get the eagles choreographed in time. It would have to be a different day!

Ed had taken the lead on coordinating the vacation, but told Hayley he couldn't figure-out what to do during the day for when they were in Toronto. That's because he couldn't figure-out what to do during the day when they were in Toronto. He did have a plan for the way home though!

When preparing for the day Hayley said she assumed she didn't need to dress nice, due to the utter lack of plans. Ed said that he was planning to wear something nice, so....

Little did he know he showed his hand. Those subtle hints again!

The extent of Ed's planning was a no-rush day in the city, a lateish dinner, and then an after-dark proposal by the falls. None of that happened.

Turns out if someone knows they're getting proposed-to, they tend to hurry things along a bit.

Around when Ed assumed they'd be picking a place for dinner, they had already eaten and were driving back to the falls. Hayley quietly cursing speed limits the whole way.

They reached the Canadian side shortly before sunset. Ed had hoped that there would be fewer people later in the day. So did the 1000 or so other people there.

Ed drove into a crescent road in Queen Victoria Park, proclaiming "We're here!"

Hayley, seeing the crescent was a parking lot for a police station, questioned this proclamation. Alternate parking plans were quickly improvised.

Walking through the park, Ed was searching for a quiet spot away from anyone else, but wasn't having much luck. He spied a ferris wheel in the distance, and mumbled "I should have taken us to the top of that..."

Hayley mumbled "I mean, it's not too late!"

Then, the universe did the couple a tiny favor, and an empty bench overlooking the falls appeared. Ed sat Hayley down and wasted no time in asking her to marry him.

Quick tip to the unmarried fellows: check that the ring is upright in the box. Especially if it's been in your pocket for 12 hours.

Hayley said "Yes! Of course yes!" What followed was a quiet moment of joy, some selfies by the falls, and excitedly telling the border crossing agent the news.

Both Ed and Hayley knew then and there that they'll spend a long and happy life together, and that they truly love each other. They're good at picking up subtle hints like that.