And That's All Folks

Hello readers. It’s been a while, but I’m back with good news! I have met my NJB, and we met just where you would expect: j-swipe. The Jewish version of Tinder or the free version of JDate. However, you would like to call it.

To recap our first messages went a little something like this:

Bobby (FYI, that’s his real name): Hey, any fun plans for the weekend? (What a unique intro!)

Me: Going to see the NY philharmonic in the park. What about you?

Bobby: I’m in Atlantic City for Father’s Day with my family.

Me: The casino is a family activity?

(I’m here to answer three years later, it’s a family activity.) Since I am writing this, we know I took a gamble on Bobby so let’s fast forward to our first date. I had just learned about a man making a significant amount more than me at work, when I was more qualified and tenured. The injustice! Obviously, this was the only thing I remember conversing about for 2-3 hours.

You would think that after I discussed this issue ad nauseam and Bobby patiently listened, I would have known he was the one for me, but I didn’t. We followed up with a second date, where I again discussed politics. He responded by treating me to ice cream, and at this point I texted my sister, “He is nice. I think we could date.” (Note my lack of exclamation marks.) By the third date, I set him up multiple times to kiss me. I quickly grew frustrated with his lack of action and exasperatedly asked, “Are you going to kiss me?” After he stumbled through words, he finally kissed me. I proceeded to grade it out loud as a B-. I pranced home and proceeded to call my mother, my father and my Aunt Bari to tell them I finally found someone I liked who liked me back. It didn’t occur to me that there was a chance he had not plunged in after my grading. I spent the rest of the summer constantly asking him if he was ready to be my boyfriend yet and his response was always no, and my friends told me that was normal. I really don’t think it was. But rest assured when I find something I love, I don’t let it go.

You could say that going on a first date with Bobby may have been like doubling down on an 11 against a 10 (unknown but possible) but marrying him is black jack.

I could describe every moment we have spent together over our relationship, but I feel that would grow boring and many of you have already heard the stories. But let me take a moment to say why he is the perfect companion and friend for me.

1.      He has more patience in his baby toe than I do in my whole body. He listens to my obsessions and frustrations, slows down to my pace when we run (he even suggests we stop so I don’t have to look like the wimp), and will try his hardest to fane interest in the reality TV I watch. (I recently caught him following the latest Bachelor contestants on Instagram.)

2.      His unwavering commitment to his family is an attribute I admire. Bobby will do anything for his family, from easy errands to going out of his way to ensure he maintains steadfast relationships. He is the first to take a hit in order to uplift someone else’s happiness. I am lucky to have such a selfless partner and teammate.

3.      He has fully embraced the title uncle. His genuine care and love for mine and now his nephews and niece, Rowan, Lily, and Max, makes my heart grow.

4.      His perfectly huge smile is a symbol of the joy and humor he brings to my life. I can get an ab workout just by listening to him. I can count on him to break the tension in stressful moments and remind me that as long as we can smile and laugh with each other, nothing is really all that bad.

5.      He takes adventure seriously. The focus and research he has put into all of our plans makes every endeavor with him something spectacular from a brunch in our neighborhood to a remote waterfall hike in North Portugal. I have been to grand places that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but with him by my side I don’t really have anything in life to fear or worry about.  

This list could go on, but I’d rather get busy celebrating the end of my search. Thank you for following my journey and believing I could catch my NJB. I can’t wait to see where life will take us.