Kristyn and Evan first matched on Hinge in the Spring of 2021, with Evan’s opening message asking Kristyn if early May meant late spring skiing or a visit to the beach. Soon, fast conversation about shared love for skiing, getting outside, music, food, and drinks led to the daunting, pandemic-related logistics of a first date. After a wonderful night at Bronwyn in Somerville, our next date at Trillium Brewing led to sharing a sunset back on the roof deck of Evan’s condo. There, shared music recommendations and the suggestion of songs to learn to sing together reminded both of them of a song. As Evan found the song and reached towards the play button, he recognized the first few notes of “Hazy” by Rosi Golan featuring William Fitzsimmons. Kristyn had shared the same song at the same moment!

Uncanny moments such as these continued throughout their relationship. Though the first “I love you” arrived before a November trip to Stowe to ski, the first time on the slopes together brought the same nervous energy of a first date. Kristyn showed off her race training skills on the groomed trails while Evan continuously pushed for big moguls and glades. Through that first ski season of 24 days together, Kristyn learned of Evan’s penchant for driving both legs of a long day trip while Evan learned of Kristyn’s steadfast commitment to being the best copilot possible. During a February ski trip that first season, they decided at Ledge Brewing to move in together

Winter trips led to summer trips, including hikes, camping, and the beach, with more time spent together. Figaro, Kristyn’s younger cat and personal bodyguard, had grown to like Evan almost as much as the much-less-guarded Sheba. Moxie, Evan’s Shiba Inu, still constantly tying Evan and Kristyn together on walks, had started giving airplane ears every time he saw Kristyn and finding her in crowds. Through the challenges of combining two full lives worth of physical things into first Kristyn’s Medford apartment and later Evan’s Roxbury condo, a shared home started to take shape.

While a September camping trip to Acadia carried with it a perfect weather forecast and a successfully booked sunrise drive ticket to Cadillac Mountain summit (stymied in all previous attempts), Evan carried with him his grandmother’s engagement ring. After a beautiful sunrise, Kristyn gently offered, “What a perfect start to our weekend.” Evan replied, “A perfect start to the rest of our lives,” got down on one knee, and asked her to marry him. Though Friday the 13th might seem unlucky to some, it turns out Evan’s grandparents had their first date on Friday the 13th.