It all began one morning when the cutest blonde boy came into the clinic for a sick visit. As we always did, my friend Christy and I would alternate patients and this little boy, Tripp, happened to fall on my assignment. I had the most immediate connection with his incredible mom, Anna, and from then on, whenever I saw Tripp’s name on our schedule, Christy knew… He was mine. Anna would say I was his “first crush” because I loved making him smile. She’d asked me to come over her house for a backyard gathering and I may have passed it up because I always wanted to remain professional. But Anna had a way. She was gently persistent and on one busy Friday in May 2023, my mom convinced me “Lucinda Marie, just go. You don’t know anyone there and this would be a great way to make friends”. So, in my scrubs and my hair up in a bun, I went. I got to Anna and Daniel’s and there he was… Tripp was on the ground playing with all the other little children and I felt right in my element. Anna asked if I wanted a drink so I followed her inside and as we were talking, in walked the most handsome man I’d ever met in my life, with a sling around his neck supporting his right arm. But I kept my poker face because everybody in the south is married and has kids right out of high school so I was sure his wife and kids would walk around the corner at any moment. He said “Hi, what’s your name?” I answered and those who know me, know that I can’t keep my mouth shut so I said, “More importantly, WHAT happened to you?” He said he broke a bone playing Rugby and I’m pretty sure he lost me daydreaming after saying that. We had the best night. Hours of laughter and great conversations. He was a true southern gentleman and I was a true Jersey girl asking him verbatim “so, what’s your type?” I’m pretty sure he described me, or maybe I was still daydreaming. The night came to an end and he never asked for my phone number. Even though I really wanted him to leave with my phone number, I was just happy I had such a fun night. Early the next morning, Anna sent a text saying “Aaron is kicking himself for not asking for your number. Is it ok if I share?”… And here we are now. Planning for our forever.