Remi + Sam
Sam
Remi
Sam
It looked like someone set fire to my grandmother's scrapbook
Remi
I tried to make my profile really funny. One of my prompt was “We’ll get along if…you use the D.E.N.N.I.S. system,” which is an It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference. I've learned that every guy in America is a big fan of the show! My main photo was my graduation photo from undergrad…super cute!
Sam
Remi's profile was literally the only one that made me die laughing out loud all by myself. Like when her bio said "We'll get along if you use the D.E.N.N.I.S. system" I knew I had to connect with her immediately.
Remi
We started tinkering with his profile at the park, there was this one photo of him and his four year-old brother that made my heart melt. I started really hoping we were on a date!
Sam
It was pretty bland, there was no bio
Remi
"Once I tried speed dating. I was the only one who actually brought speed. Needless to say, I am no longer allowed to participate in events, but I’ve been advised that Bumble is a healthy alternative."
Sam
Remi
Sam
Looking for build some memories in this short life. Someone who is mentally and emotionally stimulating. Willing to go on adventures and live in the unexpected.
Remi
A cute active guy with a good job, a love of dogs, and no pictures of himself holding up a fish he caught...bleh!
Sam
Racists, cousins or accountants. Big red flags.
People with unique personalities. Some originality that shines through their answers, pictures, bio, style, etc.
Remi
Too many selfies, no photos with friends, admits to drug use (Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but I'd prefer someone with the good sense to hide it!), profile complaining about something women do (Seriously, guys do this all the time! Sometimes it’s like “Come up with something more creative than ‘hey’ when you message me.”).
Photos with dogs, photos with friends, a sense of original humor shining through, a job that intimidates me (Aerospace engineer…hello! But I guess university lecturer makes the cut ;)), active, doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Sam
I believe the conversation went something like: "Hey Remi, long time no talk. Well, I just saw you on Bumble and uhhm, just wanted to say you're hilarious. Please bless me with some fire prompts for my profile." We hit it off from there.
Remi
When I picked up the phone I said "No. Way."
Sam
I think the call was on a Wednesday and the first date was on a Sunday, if I recall.
Remi
We talked on the phone for a while and then we texted for a few days before planning to hang out that weekend
Sam
Remi and her family were super concerned about Covid and wanted to take every precaution. I had been getting tested weekly at the time for work and that helped reassure it would be a safe date.
Remi
It was definitely at the forefront of our conversation when we started talking about hanging out for the first time. There are only so many things you can do on a first date during a pandemic. It was basically down to outdoor restaurant (not super safe), beach, park, or going for a walk
Sam
I knew if we went to the park there is a super romantic spot at Santa Monica Airport where you can see planes take off into the sunset. Since she didn't know it was a date at first I thought we could hit it off casually at the park and then walk over.
Remi
We went to Clover Park in Santa Monica and I helped Sam perfect his Bumble profile. That much he planned. Once we got there we started seeing small planes landing and taking off and spontaneously decided to watch the planes at the Santa Monica Airport (I have a feeling Sam might’ve had this in mind beforehand).
Sam
It had been 5 years since I had seen Remi and it was like a before and after picture except I guess she was always hot. But what really struck me was how our conversation had flowed as if those gapped years never happened.
Remi
Sam glowed up! I mean, he was always cute in high school, but now he was HOT! I tried to play it cool until I said I would “Superswipe” him.
Sam
Remi having 3 degrees from USC, Milan and Hong Kong now getting 98th percentile on her LSATs alines with my drive to never stop growing and learning. No, but seriously, we challenge each other intellectually as well as emotionally.
Remi
Humor is a huge deal for both of us. Right away, our banter was on point and I couldn’t stop laughing. I STILL can’t stop laughing every time we’re together or on the phone or even just texting. You have to have a sense of humor when the world is in shambles. We knew each other from high school, but we were both able to put all of our preconceived notions of each other aside and actually get to know each other all over again. In order to do that we had to trust each other pretty early on.
Sam
She is someone I can stay on the phone or be with for all hours of the day. That is just not a common bond to have with another human.
Remi
This might sound cocky, but I think we were both used to being the funniest person in the room and the smartest person in the room. I’m in a place in my life where I’m confident enough in who I am to spend all my time with someone (Sam) who is both funnier and smarter than me. I came to realize that we’re not just performing like we might’ve done in high school. I don’t feel like I need to prove to him that I’m smart or funny or empathetic or loyal or even pretty. He sees me as I really am and I see him for who he truly is. I think before we started dating we saw the other person as a caricature of who we were from high school. It’s really hard to look past what you already “know” about someone. Our connection is different from others because we DIDN’T start from scratch. We started from something and trusted each other enough to put it behind us.
Sam
It was such an inevitability by the amount of time we had spent together in a short window that I just naturally called her my girlfriend one day.
Remi
We made it official after 3 dates and talking nonstop in between. He said something like, “I think you’re my girlfriend…?” And I said “Oh my god, who told you?!”
Sam
Absolutely not. I only got on Bumble because of being recently single and in the age of Covid. If it wasn't a pandemic I never would have considered dating apps so, it's highly unlikely we would have been reconnected.
Remi
I think we would still be dating. Sam is truly a singular human being. There is no one like him. We probably wouldn’t have met in a park if it weren’t for the pandemic, but we would have met somewhere! Sam still would’ve seen my profile on Bumble and I’d still be wooed by his big brain and sense of humor.
Sam
We have a lot more physical distance than we would have normally. It's making us spend a lot more time getting to know each other on a deeper level.
Remi
We were forced to communicate openly and honestly very early on. No games.
