From Perry's point of view...
 
February 12, 2023. Eagles vs. Chiefs. Super Bowl Sunday.
 
On that day, Tyler (the Best Man) and I made plans to watch the Super Bowl in Nashville. Tyler spent the night on Saturday the night before, we went to church, and got lunch. Tyler ALSO wanted to stop by the Green Hills Lululemon store. This may or may not have anything to do with the fact that I get a 15% off military discount at Lululemon, that Tyler was wanting to utilize.
 
So there we are, Lululemon at the Hill Center in Green Hills. Mid-afternoon on Super Bowl Sunday. As Tyler is trying on the latest and greatest of men's athleisure wear, I begin talking to the workers.
 
For those that know me, I have never lacked in the ability to strike up conversation. A Gift of Gab as many may say. Although some may not always revere this talk-ability of mine, and I am sure some of the Lululemon workers that day did not... I ended up having the first of many conversations with the most beautiful person I have ever met, Christine Marie Baird.
 
The first thing that caught my attention was the khaki-colored Chicago Bears hat she was wearing. Confused as to why someone would be wearing a Bears hat on Super Bowl Sunday, something not seen since the days of Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester, we started making conversation (the below quotes are not entirely precise... but give a general idea of how the conversation went):
 
P: The Chicago Bears, huh? Why the Bears?
 
C: Well I am from Chicago, and they are my team.
 
P: Tough to hear. Although I am a Cubs fan myself, so I know the ups and downs of Chicago sports fandom.
 
Of course I had to follow up and ask the all-important question to Chicago sports fans... Cubs or White Sox? North Side or South Side? Chrissy's response was a bit shaky, as she is more of a basketball person (I would learn more about this passion later). She said White Sox initially, but then mentioned that she really enjoyed the Cubs 2016 World Series run. Chrissy told me that she was living in Los Angeles in 2016 and remembered the World Series vividly.
 
From there I discovered she attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for her undergraduate degree. Being the sports fan that I am, I asked her how familiar she was with the history of UCLA basketball. Adding on that I have always been a fan of Pauley Pavilion and the story of John Wooden and the importance of tying your shoes (https://kimfoard.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/how-to-tie-our-shoes.pdf).
 
Chrissy's response was perfect:
 
“Yes, I am quite familiar with UCLA basketball, I actually played basketball at UCLA.”
 
One of the best things I have ever heard, I was in Heaven. And Heaven that day looked a lot like the Hill Center Lululemon. We continued to talk, and talk, and talk some more. I lost track of time, which was fine because Tyler was taking his own time picking out the newest four-way stretch men's trousers.
 
Foolishly, I never asked for her name, or her number. But something about our interaction felt as if our conversations were not over.
 
I check out from Lululemon, utilizing my military discount on Tyler's newest wardrobe additions, we left the store, and went home.
 
Later that day, just before kick-off, I noticed a new follower request on Instagram. The person's bio read:
 
ucla alum || nashville
 
IT WAS HER!
 
Chrissy Baird. I finally had her name, and the ability to contact her. After the game ended, I built up the courage to message that girl in the Chicago Bears hat.
 
A few days later we went on our first date. Up Down, a bar-cade in East Nashville. I thought if the conversation waned during the date, we could switch things up and play Pop-A-Shot basketball. We sat down and didn't leave the table for hours. Talking about life, sports, faith, relationships, the fact that I was moving to Virginia in a month. All normal things for a first date!
 
We ended up spending a lot of time together for that next month or so before I moved away. Luckily, Vanderbilt made a strong run in the SEC Tournament and later the NIT, so we never ran out of date-night ideas. We just kept going to basketball games.
 
When I moved away, we did not know where the relationship would go, but we were both determined to work for the relationship. That led to daily phone calls and text messages. Over time, I realized that Chrissy exceeded every expectation I have ever held for the woman I wish to marry.
 
Her strength through adversity, intense faith, dedication to family, and of course her ability to bro down and talk sports for hours on end, led me to falling in love with that girl in a Chicago Bears hat.
 
We exchanged our first I love yous on Father's Day weekend 2023. And we are able to make that lifelong commitment this Father's Day weekend 2024. I love Chrissy Baird, and think any and all who have stuck around to read this far down love her, too.
 
-P

P&C

Wedding Day

Reception