Our story begins in the true modern era fashion, online. We connected on the dating platform called Hinge, Naomi liked Kyle’s non-negotiable answer of “open, honest, and healthy communication”. Kyle responded with a comment about buying Blink-182 tickets (a note to one of Naomi’s posted photos from her recently attended When We Were Young music festival in Vegas that was headlining Blink-182 - her all time favorite band). Conversation flowed smoothly from there. Naomi also discovered Kyle had previously liked her profile on a separate dating platform, a match that was meant to be!

The conversation moved off the dating platform the day of The Apple Cup. For those who don’t know, Kyle attended Washington State University while Naomi graduated from University of Washington, two rivalry schools. Naomi was at the game that day, and after the huskies won a hard fought battle (the last true Apple Cup of the PAC-12 mind you), the first test came when she sent a text to Kyle in the form of a W-throwing selfie, decked out head-to-toe in husky gear. Kyle responded with a booing, thumbs down cougar selfie, and we knew this wouldn’t hinder our relationship. Now while school related jabs may not be an approved topic of conversation in our household, we are very proud of the schools we attended, and are happy we get to stand Washington strong.

Within a week of talking, we met for our first date at Twisted Fork in Tacoma. Naomi was dressed to support her Seahawks as they were playing a Thursday night game, however the conversation flowed so well, there was little attention paid to the game and Naomi didn’t even notice her Hawks poorly lose. One hour turned to three, and we were told it was closing time. We walked outside, and stood in the bitter December cold continuing the conversation, neither wanting the night to end. As we shared our first kiss, we were rung in true Tacoma style, with someone unloading an entire mag a mere quarter mile away. Quite an ending to an amazing night!

A week after our first date, Naomi came down with her first ever bout of Covid, and was immediately in isolation for two weeks as her symptoms were severe and dragged on with a continued positive test. While neither would ask for a repeat of that situation, it did give the opportunity for us to connect even more through deep conversation, and phone calls that lasted late into the nights. We are forever grateful for the bond that grew during those talks and really set a strong foundation for our relationship.

The adventures continued, and the love continued to grow, until one evening, while on their first international trip together to Mexico, after a relaxing day by the pool, and an evening of margaritas and resort wandering, Kyle got down on one knee on a beach in Punta de Mita, with a beautiful sapphire ring in hand, and asked Naomi to marry him. She said yes!