And that's how the story ends. Monica and Curtis sail off into the sunset. Oh wait, you might want to know how we got to happily ever after.

Well....we met about 20 years ago through my cousin, Kashonna, who happens to be Monica’s best friend. Now when we met, the differences in age and life paths were quite different, so although I thought she was beautiful….it was not the right time. Timing, was and is, a huge factor in the evolution of our relationship because although we have known each other many years, it was not until 2015 when Monica was looking to relocate from New York that we were together.

When we initially met back in 1998-1999, Monica went away to school so I didn't see her much after I moved to Kingston. I was doing the bad boy thing anyway so I didn't think about her much. Here is what changed the game. When I did see her again, it was about 8 years later at my brother’s graduation in Baltimore. I had moved back to Chicago by then, but traveled back East to join in the festivities. Monica, being a long-time family friend, was there to celebrate with us as well. The family was at dinner when those old feelings sparked…must have been the shellfish because things got a bit weird. Monica was not so young anymore and I wondered if she had feelings for me as well? There were looks, smiles, and innuendos exchanged over the course of the night but yet again, the timing was not right. We left the family gathering as we had come, which is friends, but some mighty seeds had been planted. The chemistry between us was undeniable, but alas, we both had our separate lives to return to.

Fast-forward to 2015 and Monica and I hadn’t spoken since Baltimore. However, with the fabulous invention of Facebook we got back in touch. As Monica was preparing to start a new life and relocate after the death of her husband, she contacted me for some insight about Chicago. If you know me, then you know I could not let the opportunity pass without asking her about those sparks we felt in Baltimore. Do you feel them too? Did we imagine them? Where did that come from? We still couldn't explain it but thought that it was something special. That conversation turned into one of many and because the timing was FINALLY right for us, we were able to let the feelings flow. We had the time and space to find out it was very much something special and so she decided to move and take a chance on me. This, my family and friends, is why you got the invite to celebrate our special relationship that has blossomed into marriage.