For comedian and writer Mel McGlensey, navigating the New York City dating scene in her early twenties felt like a relentless series of disappointments. Working as a journalist and performing stand-up in 2015, she found her heart had taken a beating from a string of underwhelming encounters. That all changed, however, the moment she met a man named Doug.
A Revelation of Common Decency
From their very first date, the dynamic was profoundly different. Instead of enduring a self-indulgent monologue or nervously downing drinks, Mel found herself engaged in genuine conversation. She spent the evening talking passionately, fielding Doug’s thoughtful questions about her opinions and aspirations while nursing a single cocktail. His simple, respectful demeanour stood in stark contrast to her previous experiences. So struck was she that she phoned her mother on her journey home to gush about this remarkable new man.
Weeks passed before their second rendezvous, but it proved to be pivotal. After a perfect autumn evening in 2015 filled with Italian food, ice cream, and political debate in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Doug kissed her. In that instant, a clear, unbidden thought crashed into Mel’s mind: “You’re kissing the man you’re going to marry.” She journaled about the powerful feeling that night, surprised by its intensity.
A Global Pursuit and a Painful Goodbye
Just as their connection deepened, Doug delivered life-altering news during a dinner in Williamsburg: he had been offered a job in Melbourne, Australia. Devastated, Mel sobbed the entire cab ride home. Unwilling to let him go, and with the enthusiastic encouragement of her romantic mother, she devised a plan. Recalling her own joked-about plans to backpack in Australia, she secured a work-holiday visa, initially heading to Sydney to avoid appearing like a stalker.
When Sydney didn’t work out, she moved to Melbourne months later, her claims about the city’s comedy scene feeling flimsy even to herself. In reality, she had followed him across the globe. Doug, initially a little freaked out by her impulsivity, tried to keep things casual. But as Mel prepared to return to grad school in Chicago, his trepidation melted away. Their farewell at Melbourne airport was heartbreaking, but he promised they would meet again.
From Long Distance to a Lifelong Commitment
During a stopover in Thailand, Doug sent her a deeply personal playlist that made their enduring connection undeniable. By the time she landed in Chicago, they decided to become exclusive, embarking on a punishing two-year long-distance relationship. Mel eventually moved back to Melbourne just before the Covid-19 lockdowns began in 2020. While her performing career stalled and she battled depression, Doug became her unwavering support, even letting her fill their empty guest room with foster kittens despite not being an "animal guy."
In 2022, Doug proposed on the beach at Inverloch with a sapphire the colour of the ocean. The night before their 2023 wedding in California, Mel read him the journal entry from their second date for the first time, revealing the prophecy she had felt years earlier in Brooklyn. Now building a life together in Melbourne, Mel reflects daily on the gratitude she feels for having followed her heart to the other side of the world—not once, but twice.
