James and Dana’s love story has been unconventional at best, they would have never been able to predict what their lives unfold into after initially meeting as young kids at a summer camp in 2003. Pure hearted bouncy little James always wanted to win Dana’s attention and affection, he would create nick names and show off with his swimming skills and even pout when he didn’t get his way. Years went by as they both experienced young love and heart break. Having gone through milestones and graduations they reconnected yet again at the YMCA but in a different fashions, here is where James learned how to mischievously attempt to win Dana’s attention. Now they were coworkers, although Dana held a higher ranking than he James always confidently made his own rules on the pool deck. This of course infuriated Dana, but he did win her attention this way…They spent that summer befriending one another, experiencing what it felt like to laugh whole heartedly and connect on a human level without judgement. Tentatively, due to their mending hearts from previous relationships, they would both finally admit to each other that they had been harboring more than just feelings of friendship. A summer romance arose with such excitement the remained blinded to the fact of life changes up ahead. Dana was accepted into graduate school and James began to actively pursue both career paths in which he remains dedicated to today. They both agreed that in order to care for one another it would be best to part ways, to allow each other to grow and learn what they both truly wanted in life. Years went by when they would softly attempt to remain in each other’s lives: A kind hello, a soft invite to a show, a happy birthday, a thinking of you, and on the hard days a reminder that one another still existed within the world which some how made it all feel just a little lighter. Timing was never their strong suite - it took them many years until they we are able to remain on the same wavelength. This was not for lack of trying, but the world recognized the need for both of their lives to finally make sense, so that they can truly connect without fear; openly trust and honestly cherish one another for their strengths and their weaknesses, this is what takes time. But isn’t something this good worth waiting for?