when he looks at her ...
... and when she looks at him
Dan & Katia first met 15 years ago when they were living among the redwood trees in Santa Cruz, California. They had been assigned to the same dormitory building (Porter!) on the UCSC campus. Dan was crammed into a bunkbed triple with two other guys on the first floor, while Katia had her very own room on the second floor just above his - they were vertical neighbors & quickly became friends. That first year was filled with similar lived experiences; wandering across misty forest bridges on their way to class, seeking out late night snacks from the same dining hall, enjoying very similar views of the redwoods from their windows. They ran in separate but intersecting circles, and started to recognize that they had similar core values. They built a light friendship, trusting eachothers advice & nonchalant commentary. After moving off campus, Katia & Dan actively saught out eachothers advice, and would intentionally meet up, just them two, to soundboard for one another over dinner. It was a true platonic frienship.
Towards the end of their first decade, differences in geography quietly paused those shared meals. Dan moved back to southern California and Katia moved even further south to Guatemala. They lost touch, keeping up only through the internet, as casual friends do. Then towards the end of 2017, a mutual friend (one of Dan’s freshman year roommates from his bunkbed triple) unexpectedly passed away. Katia remembers Dan saying something like “life is too short to not make time for those you care about”. They decided they must meet for coffee. It was the day before New Years Eve, and when they met the energy between them had shifted - SPARK! It was romantic and inconvenient. Katia was attending medical school in New Mexico and Dan lived in the Art’s District in downtown Los Angeles. After a few months of attempting to be realists, they decided against all practicality to open their hearts and give this long distance relationship a try. Unexpectedly but easily they redefined love. Five years later, in a cabin in the forest Dan asked Katia to marry him. The following morning, she asked him back. They both said yes.
Dan and Katia are overjoyed to invite those they love most (YOU) to the redwood forest near where they first met, as they celebrate their love and decision to become life partners.
Towards the end of their first decade, differences in geography quietly paused those shared meals. Dan moved back to southern California and Katia moved even further south to Guatemala. They lost touch, keeping up only through the internet, as casual friends do. Then towards the end of 2017, a mutual friend (one of Dan’s freshman year roommates from his bunkbed triple) unexpectedly passed away. Katia remembers Dan saying something like “life is too short to not make time for those you care about”. They decided they must meet for coffee. It was the day before New Years Eve, and when they met the energy between them had shifted - SPARK! It was romantic and inconvenient. Katia was attending medical school in New Mexico and Dan lived in the Art’s District in downtown Los Angeles. After a few months of attempting to be realists, they decided against all practicality to open their hearts and give this long distance relationship a try. Unexpectedly but easily they redefined love. Five years later, in a cabin in the forest Dan asked Katia to marry him. The following morning, she asked him back. They both said yes.
Dan and Katia are overjoyed to invite those they love most (YOU) to the redwood forest near where they first met, as they celebrate their love and decision to become life partners.