January 11, 2025

Leland and Brittney first crossed paths in the fall of 2019 during an 8-person nutrition class at the Berkeley Extension building on Shattuck. Brittney had taken a seat, and Leland, with a clear interest, quickly claimed the spot next to her every Tuesday night. Despite Brittney being in a relationship at the time, Leland’s charm was hard to ignore. He would whisper jokes to her, often disrupting the class and making her giggle—so much so that even the professor joined in the laughter. Leland would walk her to her car after class and would invite her to hangout at Jupiter with other classmates. After class ended, Leland and Brittney went their separate ways, and amusingly, so did Brittney and her then-boyfriend. It wasn’t until June 2020 that their paths crossed again when, as Leland puts it, Brittney “slid into his DMs.” What started as a simple message soon turned into internet dates, which Brittney initially thought were just friendly hangouts. However, these “dates” quickly evolved into something more meaningful. Before long, Leland and Brittney were embarking on adventures together, exploring Yosemite, Joshua Tree, the Redwood Forest, Lake Shasta, and Red Rock in Nevada. Since then, Leland and Brittney have traveled to Athens, Kalymnos, and are looking forward to their upcoming trip to Thailand. They’re excited to continue living a life filled with adventure and excitement together, as they build a family that will join them in their journeys.