We met on May 11, 2019 at Justine Thomas's grad school graduation party. We had both known her for years, but our paths never crossed! Sophia went to grad school with Justine, and I worked with her at the National Museum of American History. We hit it off immediately. Despite Sophia telling me about the history of squirrels in US city parks, I still thought she was cool, a misconception that continues to this day.

Our first date was at Bar Deco. I choked on my nachos so badly I thought I was going to die, but managed to play it off so cool Sophia apparently didn't notice. Sophia later told me that I had coffee stains on the first three shirts I wore on dates, a good insight into who I am as a person.

When my mom died in January of 2020, Sophia was my absolute rock. She stepped up magnificently, holding my hand through the funeral, ash scattering, and grief. I knew then I would spend my life supporting this woman the way she supports me.

When the pandemic hit, we spent increasingly longer and longer visits together. We learned we cook well together, share similar interests and complimentary senses of humor, and, due to a Christmas Eve boiler malfunction, even work together well in a crisis (flooded basement).

We moved in together in May 2021, and a month later we adopted a very yelly cat named Bailey. We share a cozy apartment in Woodley Park (at this point it's Bailey's apartment, but she lets us live here)

I popped the question (with the help of Justine and Val!) on April 29, 2022 at Tregaron Conservancy. I managed to surprise Sophia with the proposal, which is surprising considering her incredible perception and my poor planning skills. We'd been talking about marriage (and Sophia picked out her ring) but she had no idea what I was up to!

When we travel together, the running joke is that I am in charge of morale and Sophia is in charge of logistics. We are a team. We are greater together than apart. I am madly in love with Sophia and I cannot wait to share this day with our family and friends.

-Paul Stewart (never Paul Brocenos, no matter how much Sophia wants)