If You Ask Solomon:

Not knowing what God had in store for me, I knew I had a strict list of what I was looking for in my next relationship. I was a single dad and a package deal. I wanted my daughter to be able to feel love, guidance, support, and to know that she was my priority.

Well, it all started with hopping on a few dating apps for the first time to see if it was worth exploring from a dating aspect. Hearing all of the horror stories about being catfished, I had my doubts.

One particular day, I came across a profile of Marcella Smith and damn, lawd have mercy! While I thought it was an interesting name, I just assumed she was of Latin heritage, with a little cocoa butter mixed with her. LOL!

Then, I thought there is no way this woman is real, but I took a chance and swiped right! And wouldn't you know, The Bumble Gods were in my favor and we were connected. We started chatting online just to get to know each other better, and I was intrigued but still thought this can't be true.? After a few weeks, I planned to set up a meeting to see each other face to face. Low and behold the next day her profile disappeared out of my feed. I was like yep, she was a fake, for sure playing with peoples' emotions...LOL! A few weeks go by and guess what? She came back online and we connected. It was fate for sure! I wasted no time and tried to reschedule our meetup, so the perfect situation presented itself. I was attending a friend's wedding alone at the Orlando Science Center. As we were heading to the reception, the bride and groom asked if I had a date and I said no, but then they gave me a look like really, you can't find a date? I said well, I do have someone in mind, but just met her and they told me to go call her and extend the invite. What?! Are you serious?!! There is no way this woman will meet me for the first time by crashing this wedding. Hell, what did I have to lose?! I reached out, and she answered and I said, "Hey, are you busy right now?" She indicated she was at home and I asked her if she would be willing to come crash this wedding and hang out with me. She thought I had lost my mind or I was crazy. But the stars aligned and she took a chance to see where this fate would lead us. She came out, and was stunning in every way possible and I knew right then that there was no way I was letting this one go...we had such an amazing night dancing, talking, and getting to know each other. It almost felt like we knew each other for years or at least in passing. After that night, I knew it was GOD and she was someone special. The rest is history and I remember that day like it was yesterday. It truly was meant to be...I love her yesterday, today, and always.

If You Ask Marcella:

Back in 2016, I was struggling in the dating scene...Went on a few dates, and was "putting myself out there". Met some nice people, but I was looking for something more than "nice". To be honest, I wasn't quite sure "what I was looking for". So, in the meantime, these men were placed in the "friend-zone". There were plenty of times I felt like I wasn't destined for this life of love and companionship. A couple of months went by and I walked into the Apple store at The Mall@Millenia to get help with my phone. I forgot her name nor have I seen this particular employee since this day, but we started chatting about phones and life and she took a few seconds to return a text from her boyfriend. She was smiling SO BIG while she was communicating with him, and Of Course, I saw her genuine emotion and was curious about where she met this guy (so maybe I could swing by this "place" to meet a man to make me smile too. Ha!) Long story short, she told me she met him online on Bumble. At the time, I never heard of Bumble, so she talked me through it and even set up my profile page while I was there. It was great! LOL! I literally left the Apple store with my phone fixed and a profile on a dating app! Craziness, right?! Some weeks later, I went back to the Apple store to look for this young lady to check in with her about "life", but no one had any memory of her...It was like she never existed, or was she Devine? It was weird and it didn't make any sense. Surely, I didn't just imagine her...she was real...I saw her and I had proof..I was on BUMBLE because of her! I was so confused, yet grateful.

Within a few weeks of swiping, a man named Solomon popped up as a match. We had a couple of conversations, but we didn't necessarily hit it off in the app because somehow I deleted the app (by accident), so I thought he ghosted me, but it was just me not being familiar with the dating app. I found my way back on the app, and he popped up as a match again, and this time I wasn't sure "about this guy". After speaking with him over the phone, I wasn't confident that we were a match, but he was, "nice".

Not long after our phone conversation, I was invited to a bridal shower and I made it back home faily early. Solomon texted or called me as soon as I walked through my apartment door inviting me to be his date at some wedding reception. Naturally, I was reluctant because I didn't know the Bride and Groom, I was already home, and I did not leave my place again once my PJs were on. LOL! However, I agreed to go. I threw on a black dress and darted out the door. Once in the parking lot, I had several thoughts about turning around and taking my behind back home. As I was sitting in my car, I must've let Solomon know because he responded back with, "I'm on my way out to come get you." I was so nervous, but started walking up to the venue and within seconds Solomon came around the corner in a light gray suit...looking SO goodT! I couldn't believe that he looked better in person...he looked like the guy in his pictures but better! We hugged, said a few words, than he grabbed my hand and we walked inside the reception. It felt like we were a couple. At that very moment, I thanked GOD for this man because for the first time in a long time, I felt a "spark", "butterflies", "excitement", "joy", and "safety".

Almost 9 years later, Solomon has proven that he's not just a "nice" guy and amongst ALL of his many great attributes and qualities as a life partner and dad, he shows up with a willingness to work through challenges together...and that was an important characteristic that I was looking for but couldn't quite articulate it into words when I started this dating journey.

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