I don’t like to wait for people or things, which is probably why most of my family and friends think of me as the “one that’s always late.” Maria is one of the few things in my life I have had to wait for. And now it seems like I’ll be waiting for her (because she is somehow always later than me) for the rest of my life.

In the spring of 2017, driving down Mulberry Street with my friend, I told him, “I would love to marry Maria one day.” It might be hard to believe for some, but her personality, family values, morals, faith, and the way she lights up a room with her positive attitude made me sure of this even back then. I had a crush on her for years, but I knew the timing wasn’t right, and I needed to wait.

After graduating from Scranton and moving to NYC, Maria and I were the two that tried to keep our Scranton friends together the most. Lucky for me, that meant we ended up seeing each other a few times a year, even though we didn’t go to the same school anymore.

In the winter of my first year of dental school, I finally made a breakthrough. We had our first kiss. Unfortunately, when I asked her on a date the next day, she said she thought that we should just stay friends. And I had to wait, again.

Lucky for me, this time it was only two months. Out of the blue, I got a message from Maria's friend, inviting me to meet up with her and Maria in the city. We hit it off again, and this time she agreed to a date. We talked every day for the next two months and after a few more dates, we committed to doing a long-distance relationship.

After 3.5 years of being Martz Bus’s best customers, Maria and I moved in together in NYC for the 3 years of my orthodontic residency. Six months later, we got engaged after a romantic evening at the Met Opera in front of a beautiful water fountain. We love exploring the city together and trying so many amazing restaurants. It is going to be hard to leave, but after graduation our plan is to move back to the Scranton area, find jobs, and hopefully be blessed enough to start a family.

For my nerve's sake, I hope she isn’t too late the day of the wedding, but as always, she’ll be worth the wait. I love you, Maria.

The Friendship

The Relationship

The Proposal

Life Lately