August 2005 - Paola had just arrived from the Dominican Republic and was moving into her Freshmen dorm room at Barton College in North Carolina. Chad and the rest of the soccer team were “helping the freshmen move in” (I.e., checking out the new girls). They clicked and went out dancing that first weekend (this pic is from that weekend).
After Barton, they always kept in touch and met up a few times. They had a pretty awesome friendship even though they lived so far apart. This picture is from Homecoming at Barton 9 years after they met. Paola won some fancy alumni award and Chad graciously went as her date… and as always, they danced the weekend away!
Apparently someone told Paola that “her husband was so much fun!” But Paola was too embarrassed of Chad’s crazy backflip and splits dance moves that she simply rolled her eyes and said “that’s not my husband.” Guess joke is on Paola!
During the pandemic, Paola was driving after having a pretty bad week. The song “Lose Control” by Missy Elliot came on the radio and she instantly went from tears to laughing hysterically, because all she could think of was Chad going insane on the dance floor every time this song came on. She decided to pull over and send him a text to thank him (after not talking for a long time because you know… life!). That triggered this year long constant video chatting and catching up on life and the struggles of living through a pandemic.
Here is a picture of Chad and Paola on her training run for the Chicago Marathon. Chad borrowed a super tiny bicycle and rode it next to her while she ran 20 miles!! And then hopped on a flight to spectate the race all across Chicago. If a man does that… you marry him!
After spending time together, meeting each other’s families, traveling to Peru, NYC, NC, Chicago and others… it was obvious that they needed to spend the rest of their lives together. Even if it did take 16 years to figure that out!