Long distance, global pandemic, quarantine. Not exactly the words you want to think about when starting a new relationship, but these were the words we had to work with when we found each other on a dating app in Spring of 2020. Kelsey was a high school teacher working in Sibley, IA, and Josh was an ER nurse in Sioux Falls, SD. Conversation was easy, and our first date was quickly set.

Kelsey drove the 60 miles up to Sioux Falls and met Josh at Coffea Roasterie downtown for a cup of coffee in the afternoon, which led to vinyl hunting at the record store, dinner and drinks while laughing at wrestling on the bar TVs, a quick pit stop to meet Josh's dog April, and then back downtown to say goodnight after people watching at one of the popular bars downtown. We shared our first kiss that night right across the street from where we started, in front of Zandbroz Variety Shop.

After a few trips to Sioux Falls, it was time for Josh to take the trip down to Sibley to watch some movies and meet Kelsey's cats, Rose and Oswin. Now, for those who know us and have been to our home, they know that Rose and Oswin are polar opposites. Rose loves everybody, especially if they're offering cheese. Oswin, while she still loves cheese, will not come out for anybody unless she knows them, but that wasn't the case for Josh. Kelsey says to this day the moment she realized Josh was something special was when Oswin came out to see him his first trip down to Sibley. Josh takes great pride in this and boasts about it to anyone who will listen.