Back in 2022 I was a last minute sub for Alex's volleyball team. We didn't have a lot of time to talk that day, but his jokes landed and he was pretty good at volleyball. He was the face I started looking for. I ran into him again a week later at the same courts.

That day, as we were leaving, he got my number.

I’ll never forget his first text, “Alex Daresh”. I remember not knowing how to pronounce his last name.

We got coffee three days later at my favorite place (Lazarus Brewery). We talked about our time in Austin, what weather apps we use, and how much I hated baseball. It was my favorite day.

After a few days of texting, he invited me to play in a 2s volleyball tournament. After finishing second, while everyone was packing up around us, we sat on the bleachers and talked. We talked until the park was empty and the lights had turned off.

I was so impressed with this intelligent, hilarious man, who not an hour earlier I had watched put chewed gum straight into his shorts pocket.

At 3 am, when we finally decided to leave, he kissed me for the first time.

As I was starting my car, he called me and asked if he could see me again. we planned our first date and I think we saw each other every day after that.

To the finder of my cell phone, our daughter’s second favorite person, and the dishwasher-loading-manager, I can't wait to marry you.

When I first met Daniella, I instantly wanted to know more. We started off by getting to know eachother while playing beach volleyball, something that we both love. It wasnt long until we had deeper conversations that lasted until sometimes 3-4am covering everything from favorite local meteorologists to unknown mysteries of the universe….the answer is Jim Spencer by the way, the guy knows weather. Our late night conversations dont last as long anymore but every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to have the privilege of marrying such a kind, intelligent and beautiful woman.

PS, I know she wrote the thing about putting gum in my pocket. Dont do it, it absolutely ruins your pants.