I had just been transferred to a new store location while working for Ben Bridge Jewelers. I didn't know anyone in the store yet except the manager, and the only people even close to my age were the Pandora sales people. One day, while taking care of a customer, I took their jewelry into the back for a high pressure steam clean. First there was the roaring hiss of the machine, followed by an audible gasp. That's when I noticed a very startled Vanessa quietly eating her lunch. We looked at each other and both started laughing. We were instant friends. It didn't take long for us to warm up to each other. We had a shared interest in Doctor Who and similar tastes in music. My days in the jewelry store went by much faster having someone to talk to now. Eventually our work relationship expanded to group gatherings outside the confines of the mall. Our circle of friends took adventures to local parks, restaurants, and Disneyland! In those years our bond grew until one day Vanessa told us all that she was accepted into the Economics Graduate Program at The Ohio State University. We were all very proud and excited for her, but sad knowing she would be leaving, not really knowing if/when she would be coming back. During her time away, we managed to keep in contact, texting every couple weeks at first, and then it was almost daily, until she would get busy with finals and disappear into a mountain of research papers and computer code. I think we helped keep each other sane in those days, managing the stress of Grad School, and trying to make it as a voice actor. We've always been great at communicating, and giving each other space when we need it. I think that's what makes our relationship so special. We've always been friends first.

On all of my trips back to Los Angeles, James and I always made time to see each other as much as possible. This day, we went to Santa Monica late in the evening. We were laying on the sand, but the night continued to get colder. I asked him to hold me to keep me warm... and I knew I did not want him to let go. Feelings had been developing for some time, but I was worried about ruining our friendship which has always been dear to me. Still, as we drove away from the beaches, our song played in the car, and I knew it was a risk I needed to take. James had not been shy about sharing his feelings for me for some time, so we were both all smiles on the drive back home. It turns out, that a good friendship is an excellent foundation for an open, honest, freeing, and true love. And as James likes to say, we happened when we were supposed to.

Vanessa and I have always had a favorite spot. It's where we would go to enjoy the stars, listen to the ocean, and just separate ourselves from the world for a while. It's calm. It's special. It's our spot, our cliffs. So naturally I figured what a perfect place to ask "the big question." I had been mulling over in my head how to do it for months, but didn't know when. Obviously I needed a ring first. She had specifications. Luckily one of my many "hats" happens to be in the jewelry industry, and the ring came out beautifully. When I saw it I knew it would be perfect, the venue would be perfect, but there was a problem. We like to go to our cliffs at night when it's nearly pitch black and you can barely see three feet in front of you, let alone a ring in a tiny box. So I figured, "magic hour." A setting sun would be the perfect backdrop to a most romantic scene on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, right? Wrong! I had only been to the cliffs late at night after dark, but somehow I forgot that this is LA and everyone goes to the beach basically all the time. When we arrived, and much to my dismay, the parking lot was full. Street parking was hard to come by or risk getting a ticket. We tried for what had to be 30 minutes just parking and we were both getting frustrated. A spot opens up... finally. We get out and realize that people have decided that the pandemic was over and not a mask in sight, which only added to our anxiety. I thought, "The benches. Let's just get to our bench on the cliff and it will all be okay." Of course all of the benches are occupied, but there was a small clearing that seemed to be void of other humans. We sat and listened to the water trying to calm our anxiety, and I was trying to find my courage. Feeling the ring in my pocket, I started to stand ready to express what I had been wanting to say for months, when a very naked child and a very distraught mother trying to catch said child with a towel came into view. The moment had ended. the beach itself was not any better. It seems everyone had the same idea. Rose petals in the shape of a heart dawned the beach. Photographers everywhere. Couples rushing for the "golden hour" shot. Frustrated and defeated we drove home. I spent months carrying the ring. I didn't know when or how I was going to propose now, but I knew I wanted to. So later in the year we had Christmas dinner with Vanessa's family. It was lovely. The food was delicious and the company exquisite. We all exchanged our gifts, and Vanessa and I went home. When we arrived we sat down, exhausted from the day of cooking, gift wrapping, and merriment. I looked at her, feeling the ring still in my pocket, and I didn't want to wait anymore. I wanted to spend the rest of my life spending my days with my best friend. I stood up. Got down on my knee... and immediately forgot what I was going to say. All I can remember is saying, "I love you. You're my best friend. Will you marry me?"

Our chosen wedding date is the reversal of the date we became a couple. It seemed fitting that we choose this day in our favorite month and in the year when I finally graduated from my PhD program. It felt like a naturally special day. We booked our venue years in advance! In Summer of 2020. So please know, we have been waiting to share this day with you all for a long time! We hope you're as excited as we are! (But we doubt it.)