Yes, we know. Many of you have told us this --- repeatedly.

We met online (on OKCupid to be exact) in the summer of 2012. After chatting online for a bit, we had our first date on August 6th at McGinty's Pub in downtown Silver Spring. After dating on and off for about a month, we decided to take a break, but stayed in friendly contact.

In early February, Chris offered to drive Mary to Harrisburg to spend time with her dad who was then in the hospital. Chris was traveling to a family party and his route took him less than a mile from the hospital. After that trip, we stayed in regular contact, though dating was out of the question since Mary was spending at least three days a week in Pennsylvania.

After her dad's passing in March 2013, Mary's life slowly found a new normal -- a normal that included spending most weekends with Chris. By June 2013, we were a couple, meeting each other's families and spending as much time together as possible.

In the more than 10 (!) years since we've been a couple, we've been there for each other through good (Chris' promotion to manager and publication of 3 books by Mary) and bad (the deaths of Mary's mom and Chris' dad). We've traveled to Fiji and Italy, ridden countless roller coasters (at 12 different theme parks), cheered the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium -- and raced across the 50-yard line to finish the Stadium Run-- and tasted at innumerable breweries and wineries.

For years, we've known that we were in it for the long haul. It was a question of when, not if. In early February 2023, we decided that it was time to set a date -- June 7, 2025. We announced it to our families and friends who are like family and then made the public announcement on Facebook, becoming possibly the only couple in history to make an engagement announcement with an inflatable colon as a backdrop.

We can't wait to celebrate our next act with all of you.