In September of 2014, after talking for quite some time, Mario and Bethany made plans for their very first date. The night before, while texting, Mario sent Bethany a picture of a pirate shower curtain for his bathroom in his new apartment. He asked, "Would you still date me if this was my shower curtain?" Bethany sarcastically responded "Only if you have a water cannon to go with it! If you're doing a pirate themed bathroom, a water cannon is a MUST!"

~~~The Very Next Day~~~

Despite the fact that Bethany drove straight from Clarendon after a day of teaching, the fact that Mario lived behind the target where they agreed to meet, and the fact that he chose the time, he was, in true Mario fashion, late... and not fashionably. Bethany, annoyed he was late for their first date, told him that if he could find the pirate water cannon (yea, that is how long she waited... she actually found a pirate water cannon for the pool/tub in the toy department), he could take her out for the date. Not only did he find her and the water cannon, but he bought both the curtain and the cannon that night. Solidifying their love for all things pirate, which has only grown as their love has grown for each other, they went to see Pirates of the Caribbean. A three hour conversation at IHOP, many dates, all of the pirate bathroom products in the picture above, and nearly five years later, they are planning a Pirate themed wedding and cannot wait to celebrate another chapter in their adventure with all of their closest family and friends!