How We Met...
Her Version
If you've met me, you know I'm a busy person...and that I like it that way. I've always managed to pack my life full of goals and commitments, battling to maintain time for family, friends and health (you know, the things that actually matter). So after 5 intense years of college I found myself juggling career, family, friends, licensing exams, a dedicated work out routine and somehow trying to meet the right guy. Enter OKCupid :)
Paul and I met online when he sent me a message through the dating app. I remember being immediately impressed because he sent an insightful comment based on what I had written in my profile instead of the typical pick up line I was accustomed to. Just a glance through his profile showed me that he was a great guy; very open and honest, and a loving father with a totally infectious smile. I noticed a Cal Poly WOW shirt in one of his photos and that sealed the deal...we set a time for our first date. We met for dinner at Ecco in The Camp and got to know each other - talking about our work, our lives, our families, ourselves. I thought I had ruined everything at one point with an entirely inappropriate joke (I know...you're shocked right?) but luckily he laughed and we ended up hanging out, talking and laughing all night. There was an immediate connection between us, and I feel so lucky that it has grown over the past 2 years into the relationship that I had been waiting for. Paul is the yang to my yin and the peanut butter to my chocolate. He balances me, challenges me and makes me better. It's so amazing and wonderful that we finally found each other and I can't wait to build a lifelong partnership with that wonderful man of mine!
His Version
Once I decided I wanted to start seriously dating, I knew my best bet was online dating. My message to Shae was more of a reply to a comment in her profile than a flirty message. Luckily she liked it enough to reply back and we met for a date.
She quickly pointed out that we both went to Cal Poly SLO, which she knew from a shirt in one of my profile pictures (I think that's the only reason she messaged me back...). We hit it off after dinner and went to the wine bar for drinks. I had such a great time, and thought that we had such a great connection, that I gave her a goodnight kiss.
The next couple of dates are memorable but they went by quickly. We both recognized that we were in the same place in our lives and were looking for the same thing. As we spent more time together and our relationship became more serious, we were always on the same page and ready for the same level of commitment. We spent nearly every weekend together and after about a year, it made sense for us to move in together.
I knew where I wanted this relationship to go and after only a few months of living together, I knew I would ask her to marry me. I researched and bought a ring with help from her friend and sister and proposed on Christmas day. I knew she would say yes and we would get to spend the rest of our lives together.