IN THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER ONE: THE SECOND TIME

The moment our paths crossed was at a lively Halloween Party. He stood out, donning a creatively torn Hulk-inspired Darth Vader costume, while I, resembling Wednesday Adams in a chic black ensemble, occupied a seat near the candy bowl. It wasn't love at first sight for me, and who knows what was going through his mind.

The turning point came during a First Friday bar hopping event, where we met once again. It was then that I confided in my friends about my growing fondness for this intriguing individual. From that point on, our mutual friends became matchmakers, facilitating the unfolding of our love story.

He often teases me, claiming that I was smitten with him from the beginning, and he sensed my crush right away. According to our friends, that marked the inception of our love story. Ask him, and he'll playfully recount that I moved in and never looked back.

CHAPTER TWO: MAKING THE FIRST MOVE

Taking the initiative, I made the first move by inviting him to join me for lunch halfway back to my hometown. Two weeks later, we crossed paths again at his graduation ceremony. Our inaugural date unfolded on a rainy Sunday, featuring a delightful sequence of events. From a leisurely lunch to rounds of bowling, a trip to the movies, and various small activities in between to fill the waiting periods, we shared the entire day together. Surprisingly, our night concluded with a warm hug and exchanged goodbyes—no kiss, just a memorable start to our journey. 

CHAPTER THREE: THE PROPOSAL

I took the reins and convinced him to embark on a trip with me to New Orleans, a city he had expressed a desire to visit. Serendipitously, our chosen week aligned with the anniversary of when we first started dating. To celebrate, I arranged a reservation at a beautiful restaurant for our special night, anticipating a memorable anniversary. However, no proposal unfolded.

Over the following two days, we immersed ourselves in the vibrant offerings of New Orleans, indulging in its culinary delights, exploring through tours, and enjoying the lively atmosphere of its bars. Then came the exciting Wednesday with a planned swamp tour and an early dinner at another enchanting restaurant. Our routine of daytime adventures followed by afternoon rest and nighttime bar-hopping continued.

On this particular day, after the swamp tour and a quick change of outfits for dinner, we spent the afternoon shopping and exploring museums. Unexpectedly, he mentioned scheduling a photoshoot, expressing dissatisfaction with the pictures taken on the night of our anniversary. Oblivious to any hidden agenda, I casually shopped for jewelry and fixed my hair.

As we met the photographer, she guided us around, offering to hold my purse. A group of older women approached, inquiring if these were engagement photos. I chuckled, dismissing the idea. We began posing for pictures, and in a magical moment, he unexpectedly dropped to one knee, proposing and catching me completely by surprise.

New Orleans, Louisiana #Engagaed in 2022!!!