“So I got up and walked down the path in the dark
And there, deep in the distance, my eye caught a spark”
— Dan Deacon, When I Was Done Dying
We offered to take other people’s photos on our first two dates, and they insisted on taking our photo in return. How lucky are we to have (awkward) photos from the first 24 hours we knew each other?!
We were set up on a blind date by mutual friend Kelly Hagler (Tony’s ex!) for the evening of October 2, 2015. While we exchanged awkward introductions at a bar, the bartender offered us a free pepperoni pizza—a good omen if there ever was one!
The main occasion was a Dan Deacon show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. During the show, we explored the exhibits and snagged our first (unrequested and awkward) photo together.
Over a nightcap, Natalie shared her plans to go apple picking with friends the following day. Tony, who had never been apple picking before, immediately invited himself along. On the walk home from that first night, Natalie texted her mom: “Ma, I think I’m going to marry this guy.”
If we’re being honest, it wasn’t until Tony’s first bite of the apple cider donut the next day that he concurred…
… and the rest is history!
