We love when people ask us how we met and what we did for our first date because it really set the tone for how we ended up growing together.

I'll set the stage— it's August of 2020, we are five months into a global pandemic. We met swiping on the infamous dating app (you know the one!) After texting back and forth for a few days we decided to meet up, but we need a safe plan given the pandemic. I use the word "safe" almost ironically to foreshadow, because we ended up arranging for a motorcycle ride through Philadelphia.

Anthony rode over to Jessica's house to pick her up; she met him out front. After a brief safety demonstration on how to be a passenger, we were off to the races (well, more specifically to a Dunkin' Drive Thru to get some afternoon tea to go). We then parked near the Delaware River and took a walk along the waterfront to a repurposed pier that the city had turned into a public park, a welcomed green space along the industrial corridor of the waterfront.

We sat there for hours on a park bench and just talked, at one point laying down along the bench to gaze into the clouds. The conversation was effortless and we (with the help of our afternoon tea) found ourselves so relaxed. It was the beginning of our journey, unorthodox but totally us.