Others search the seven seas & oceans far and wide to find the perfect catch. These two just needed their friends to find out they were right next door to each other the whole time.
Rebecca - I remember the first day I saw James outside the condo at night walking his dog. He looked extremely nice, and I thought, "He looks really nice. I'm going to go talk to him."
James - The first time I saw her I thought, "Oh gosh, I hope she doesn't come talk to me."
That was 2018. Let's skip a few years since covid years don't count anyways to April 2021 when Rebecca and Ashlyn (roommate/co-worker), had dinner with their co-worker, Summer. After some conversation and discussion of where they lived Summer shared that her now husband previously lived up where they live. Rebecca explained to her, "I do not know anyone and that my neighbor was tall, bald, very cute, and has a dog". Her response, "That's James." In full disbelief she could not believe that Summer knew his name.
On August 28th, 2021 James asked Rebecca on their first date to Thirsty Orange (beer fest) in downtown Johnson City.
James proposed to Rebecca on October 20, 2023 at Windsor (speakeasy). James made a wooden plaque engraved with:
"Once Upon A Time...
Strangers became Neighbors,
Neighbors became Friends,
Friends became a Couple,
The Couple fell in Love,
Then He Proposed..."
She said, Yes! Then they celebrated at dinner with family & friends at their favorite restaurant, Label, with dessert from Blackbird Bakery.