In 2016, I (Charity) began getting messages on my instagram from people claiming to have seen me on Tinder. The only issue was, I didn't have a Tinder. Catfish maybe? I spent some time on other social media platforms trying to find this "catfish Charity" but had no luck. This was my first real personal encounter with Tinder. In mid 2016, I took a trip to Houston with some friends. While in Houston, Texas, my friends discussed guys they'd met on Tinder and I initially refused to make one, stating that I preferred to meet people the old fashioned way and was against online dating. At the time, I was living in St Marys, Georgia and the location combined with me being the homebody I am, meeting guys the old-fashioned way just wasn't going to happen. Boredom struck and I caved and made a tinder. Every blue moon, I'd log on, swipe left to the duds and right to the studs (nice looking men for those who are having a hard time) haha. I'd get messages from guys, but never reply. I know, weird. It was sort of like a fun game to me, a way to pass time. After matching with Andre, he wrote me a message that was a bit different than the typical...well, ya know *rolls eyes*, messages. I don't remember exactly, but I do remember that it was appropriate and respectful. I responded by saying "I don't get on here much, just text me" and gave this stranger my number. He texted and followed me on instagram, and I responded, for like a day haha. I tend to be a really horrible texter, until I like you *shrugs*. Weeks passed and Andre texted maybe once or twice, but I was too slow at responding so he stopped =/. A few weeks passed and I decided to text him. I apologised for not texting back and explained that I had been "busy" hahaha. I mean, I was! I went on like 2 trips. That constitutes as busy, right? We hit it off instantly and went on our first date the next day. We've been inseparable ever since! Thanks for the swipe right babe <3 !
Now, Tinder! I want a sponsorship deal!!!!
Andre and I went on our first date on October 1, 2016. At the time, I was living in Saint Marys, Georgia and Andre came down from Jacksonville to take me to a restaurant in town. One of the first things Andre said to me was "you know who you look like? Ashley Banks from Fresh Prince." In my (at the time) 24 years of living, I'd never had anyone say this to me. As I often do when people tell me I resemble anyone, I quickly told him that he was blind. I mean, Ashley Banks is gorgeous, however, just because we're both brown skin doesn't mean we look alike. We sat down to have dinner and conversed about the regular "I just met you" type things. As we finish up, and the waitress comes over to bring the check, she looks at me and says, "you know who you look like? The girl off of Fresh Prince. Ashley." Andre began to laugh and my mouth dropped. I was completely stunned and convinced that Andre had secretly told her to say that, but, it turns out he didn't. I haven't had anyone tell me that since and I still think he's lying about not telling her to say that. The End! :-)
Okay, first let me apologize for how raggedy I look in that picture. So, as many of you may know, Andre and I have been long distance for practically our entire relationship. First, one hour apart by car, then, 3 hours apart car, then, 20+ hours apart (by plane). Due to this (small) factor, we talked about things like marriage often. Andre and I have talked about marriage since the first year of dating. I call it intentional dating and I told him very early on that I wasn't dating nobody son for a million years :-). We talked extensively about getting engaged in 2019 and had basically come to an agreement that it was happening. I know, I know, it's not the norm, but, because our situation was so unique, things take extensive planning. So, that's what we did!
So, I thought I had it all figured out. I'd see Andre December 27th-31st and he'd propose sometime between then. I had time to get my hair done, nails done, a cute outfit, and all that jazz, because he wasn't going to catch me slipping.
Mannnnnnnn, long story short, Andre drove 7 hours to my grandmas house on Christmas Day and proposed to me outside of the gym that I was working out in. I was soooo surprised because we had been talking all day! We were literally just making plans for things we'd do in Atlanta when I saw him that weekend. It was literally the sweetest thing ever! Just my me, my grandma, him, and the lady inside this gym that snuck this picture hahahaha and it was absolutely perfect!
So, no I didn't have my wig on, I didn't have on cute clothes, and my nails were NOT done, but this was literally the best surprise ever!
P.S. We have a video, but my grandma had the camera facing the wrong way for 1/2 of it hahahahahahah! Whoops! :-)