Despite overlapping for two years on the same college campus, Cati and Markham danced around one another without ever crossing paths until Markham showed up uninvited to Cati’s birthday party in Washington, DC in May 2014. On first impression Cati loved Markham’s hair. Markham loved Cati’s brain. That summer they attended World Cup soccer match viewings, trivia nights at H street breweries, showings of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (with C- butterbeer), Shake Shack outings (with A+ Shannon Biello), and even saw The Lion King at the Kennedy Center followed by a romantic walk around the DC monuments. Cati played hard to get. Markham followed. An easy friendship grew into a budding relationship. They shared stories, friends, and time together - eventually becoming most comfortable when with the other. Frisbee tournaments were played, marathons were run (by Cati), the Blackhawks (and the Cubs!) both won championships - the Wizards did not. Cati moved to New York City for Medical Residency. Markham followed. In Manhattan, Cati found big parts of herself in her work and her community, flowering into a medical practitioner who looks to serve others first. Markham quit working in consulting to become a software engineer, an uncertain decision at the time made possible only by Cati's incessant belief and encouragement. They grew into themselves together, and eventually decided to match to a dream residency program out West. Markham said San Francisco didn't sound so bad. Cati said it wasn't New York. California brought a new community, new work, new hobbies, and a new duo of perfect cats (Appa and Momo may not be at the wedding but they will be featured shamelessly). SF saw new bikes, new food, and a new normal. With an uncertain world, in uncertain times, the two were not uncertain about each other. After an ever expanding series of shared moments, and discussions about their future, Markham asked Cati to marry him. Cati said it was her idea in the first place.