Location: Home Grown Café—Atlanta, Georgia

Raj: I am a bit neurotic when it comes to breakfast foods, and one of my favorite breakfast meals is Country Fried Steak and Eggs. We took a trip to Georgia to attend a wedding for one of Tara’s closest friends. While there, I found this diner that is known for their Country Fried Steak and Eggs. So much so, that they have an electronic tally that shows how many plates they have served thus far.

When the waitress came over to take our order, there was no doubt to what I wanted. Tara, however, pondered over the menu and to my surprise, she ordered a Chorizo Omelet. I was confused, but either way, my excitement for my upcoming meal made easily distracted me.

Our meals arrived and it was everything I hoped it to be. After I indulged enough to make a moment to appreciate the moment, I realized that Tara was kind of poking at her food with far less enthusiasm.

I asked her if she was okay and she begrudgingly confessed her regret in ordering the omelet. I looked at her, then looked at my half-eaten plat of goodness, and then back at her disappointment face. I may have done this a few times, just looking back and forth until I finally proposed a solution. We have shared meals in the past, so I figured why don’t we just do the same here. This way I could try a different dish than just one I was eating. She was happy to do so and we switched plates. She bit into that amazing Chicken Fried Steak and instantly understood my delight in the meal.

I looked across the table to the look of delight and satisfaction on Tara’s face, and realized that seeing that look on her face had more value to me that any enjoyment I could experience for myself. Watching her enjoy something brought me more pleasure than me enjoying that same thing. I realized in that moment that I truly loved her and that all I wanted to do was make her happy.

That was my moment when I knew I wanted to marry her.

Tara: I remember this day vividly. It was a cute southern diner with interesting wall art and choochkies lining the wall. I was just ordering by my cravings without thinking about where we were dining at the time. I was oblivious to his breakfast beast indulging in his favorite meal. This was a learning lesson for me and I know next time we go visit a southern diner, to order the region’s specialty.