How did your love story begin?

Paul and I met at Penn State when we were 17 and 18. Life took us in different directions, and we lost touch for 22 years. In 2009, we reconnected through Facebook while I was living in Miami and Paul was in Pennsylvania. As we got to know each other again, we realized the timing was finally right. After a long-distance relationship, we married in October 2010. Those 22 years apart weren’t lost time—they were part of the journey that led us back to each other.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Our favorite memory isn’t a single day—it’s reconnecting after 22 years apart. What began as a simple Facebook message turned into hours of conversation, a long-distance relationship, and eventually a marriage. We often think about how easily our paths could have never crossed again. Instead, we were given a second chance at love and the opportunity to build a life together. Every adventure, many challenges, and milestones we have shared since, began with that one unexpected reconnection.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would use the $20,000 to create memories. We would take our motorhome on an adventure, visiting places we have always wanted to see and spending time with family and friends along the way. We would also continue caring for the animals we have rescued over the years, all of whom have found a forever home with us. In many ways, our animals and our relationship share the same story—a second chance. For us, the greatest investment is in experiences, family, compassion, and time together.