I first met Jennifer at a mutual friend’s engagement party at Pelham Bay Park. This was during the COVID era so you know we were all social distanced and masked up. Fun fact I almost didn’t make it to the party because I was working that day. If I had to calculate it was a 50/50 decision if I was going to go. Ultimately, I decided why not I can enjoy some drinks and get some fresh air. This ended up being the best decision of my life.
I was the last guest to arrive fashionably on time. It was a moderate sized party probably like 30 people. In Covid math thats like 100 people. The weather was perfect and it looked like the party was passing the vibes check. I was greeted by the bride to be and she was excited to introduce me to a friend of hers. (I later found out the bride had a history of trying to play match maker.) The bride guides me to her friend my fiancé Jennifer :). I looked at Jennifer and I was immediately drawn to her presence. She had beautiful curly hair and a smile that made me melt. From the moment I saw her I knew I could not mess this up. I introduced myself and began to work my charm.
We spent the entire time at the party talking to each other. The party itself became an after thought. I was only interested in talking and getting to know Jennifer. She was laughing at all my jokes and I know I’m not that funny lol. Eventually we all go to take a group picture with all of the Boricuas at the party. Which I than turned to her and said I am not Indian lets go take the pic!
Afterwards it was getting late and I offered to walk Jennifer to her car. I walked her to her car and I asked her for her phone number. After she gave me her phone number, I tactically reached for a hug and made sure to not kiss her. You got to make her think about when that kiss was going to happen (free game for my single boys out there.)
I thought I won the lottery I could not believe she gave me her phone number. After that I started thinking about our first date because I wanted to make sure my adventure with Jennifer would continue :)
— by Raul
Our first date was on 10/4/2020 and it was the most elaborate date ever. Raul drove from the Bronx allllll the way to Brooklyn to pick me up to go apple picking upstate at Barton Orchards. But first we stopped to get rainbow bagels in Park Slope (yep, went deeper into Brooklyn), then began our two-hour journey. On the road I thought hmmm is a super committed date far away from home with a stranger. While we were driving, Raul looked at me and said I reminded him of a sunflower (which I thought was pretty cute).
The day began with Raul getting us lost in a giant corn maze (I let him take the lead so he wouldn’t know I’m super Type A). We got so disoriented in the maze that we were actually lost. Then my shin started scraping against my new Doc Martens…and I started bleeding. Till this day, the corn maze scar lives on! (Is that what I get for not being my type A self?) Pumpkin beers and apple cider donuts were an important pit stop in between the corn maze and apple picking. We took cute pics, picked some apples, then Raul said he had a surprise for me in the car. I thought, for sure this is where it ends, I’ll never be seen again.
We got to his car and he pulled out a picnic basket packed with homemade caramel for us to dip our apples in, sangria, and cannoli from Gino’s Little Italy because he remembered I’m half Italian. My heart melted, no one had ever done anything like this for me before. It was at that moment I realized this was the last first date I’d ever go on and to enjoy every minute of it.
— by Jennifer
