OUR STORY
We Found Love…
…in a Hopeless PlacE
“You know I’ve fallen in love with you, right?” Howard proclaimed as Rihanna’s We Found Love blasted above the heads of the sea of revelers at the Ascension Party 2013 on the beach in Fire Island Pines. With Howard’s fifteen summers in the Pines looking for “the right guy” and Eric’s uncertainty about his future following his recent decision to move away from his Broadway career, that summer veered away from “a hopeless place” for both and quickly evolved into one of change, possibility and love. It had only been two months since they had met on the deck of “Lina Tea” after Howard, entering as Eric was leaving for dinner with friends, saw a midwestern ginger (ok, it was bumped up a little), came right up to him, and without a word, locked lips. A fun, passing flirtation and exchange of numbers led to a date two weeks later in the city, and what was the beginning of a budding relationship and ultimately a new life, together.
That November, Eric was brought to meet Howard’s large, extended family at Thanksgiving in Florida, and he was introduced as his new friend to Cousin Judy, the elderly matriarch of the family. She smiled pleasantly and said, “Oh.” then after a brief pause, her eyes widened and she added knowingly: “ohhhhh…I get it.” and welcomed him into the fold. Eric brought Howard in turn to his family for Christmas and once pictures surfaced of Howard in matching family pajamas on Christmas morning while balancing a tray of cinnamon rolls down the stairs, it became clear to everyone that Howard was all-in.
A year later, they found their home in East Hampton to renovate together and three years later, finished it without a single disagreement on anything whatsoever. (ahem…) They love entertaining friends and family as much as they can, and it was at Eric’s 50th birthday celebration in East Hampton in 2019 that Howard surprised him with an engagement proposal. “Everyone knows that I like everything perfect, and on this journey that is life, Eric is perfect for me. (although I wouldn’t mind if he would button up his shirts when he hangs them up in the closet).” Howard said, before Eric replied with a resounding “Yes!”
…then, COVID.
Wedding plans got put on hold until the pandemic was in the rearview mirror. Well, three other couples they are friends with got engaged AND married since then (Eric planning one of the weddings!), so it seemed like it was time to put their own back on the front burner. Ten years together, four of them engaged, and their wedding is finally here.
Life together has been wonderfully full, as they continue to go on annual buying trips for High Style Deco, vacations with friends, travel to see family and enjoy both the city and their home out east. There have been milestone birthdays celebrated, engagements, weddings, graduations, events attended (event planning tolerated), sad passings, and new lives welcomed. Ups and downs for sure, but life is complex, and never easy because everything worthwhile rarely is. Both agree that it has been so very much worth the while, and can’t wait to see how the rest of their story unfolds and feel so fortunate that you are a part of it.