Story
Summer 2020, in the middle of COVID, we met for drinks on Chef Jose Andres' Jaleo patio in Crystal City. Craig looked more together than some of Catherine's more recent COVID first dates. Catherine looked pretty nice but was limping from a recent knee injury. Over drinks, which turned into dinner, we both made each other laugh and realized we might have a few things in common. Craig escorted Catherine to her car in the depths of the parking garage... and kissed her. Our first date on August 12, 2020, led to a second putt-putt golf date, another dinner, and a deepening relationship of respect and humor. We are both a bit stubborn, but as Catherine said to Tim (Craig's best man), "We actively make each other better."
Other Tidbits include:
We drove to Danville, VA, and Raleigh, NC, for Valentine's Day 2021. Craig met Martin, Sharon (i.e., Catherine's parents), and Catherine's grandmother. Martin may have saved the relationship by agreeing to be Catherine's bridge partner during a 6-hour Saturday bridge game. Anyone who knows us, knows Catherine plays bridge reluctantly and bristles frequently while playing. Craig loves bridge as much as Sharon, and, as Sharon's bridge partner, preceded to charm Sharon over the course of the game. Catherine met Carol, Katherine, and Dibley (i.e., Craig's mom, sister, and, um, "niece-dog").
Catherine joined Craig's family for a June 2021 vacation in Brevard, NC. We descended on the former girl's camp, which Carol attended in the 1950s. The extended, long weekend included a tour of Biltmore, hikes, board games and puzzles, and a memorable tour of a bee apiary.
We tried (really, we tried...) to adopt a cat named Mozzarella together in August 2021. Unfortunately, the old cat had murder on her mind and attacked us multiple times. Yet, the return of manslaughter Mozzarella opened the door to meeting Olivia, a 4-month old puppy on Labor Day 2021. She is now our Olly and we are pretty sure she thinks our names are Redhead and Beardo.
Craig (and Olly) joined Catherine's family for Thanksgiving 2021 at the Scott Family Farm outside Danville, VA. While walking the property with Martin, Craig paused and respectfully asked permission to marry Martin's only daughter.