We're getting married!

Bruno and I met in August 2019 when he interviewed me for a job at CSUCI. I was really nervous for the interview, but apparently not nervous enough to think "hey he's kinda cute - wait stop, you need to focus!" Needless to say, I got the job! When I started this new job, I thought that Bruno didn't like me because he would come talk to my office mate every day and completely ignore me. Didn't look at me, didn't talk to me, didn't even acknowledge my existence. But one day he turned to me and said "hey" and I swear that is when my life changed. We started becoming friends and we would go on bagel runs together, have lunch together, and walk to Sage Hall for check deposit runs. I started to have a crush on Bruno, but we remained just friendly coworkers for months and months. When Covid-19 shut down the world, the two of us lost touch. We hadn't talked in 5 months, but when we reconnected, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I called him to catch up, and we facetimed for 7 hours that night. We both got off the phone knowing that this was the start of something neither of us expected.

On my birthday this year, I wanted to spend the day with Bruno at the Santa Barbara Zoo. We were having a good time together looking at the capybaras and meerkats and talking about how much they look like Peach, and then we settled down on the grass to have our little picnic. After eating, Bruno handed me my birthday card. The end of the card said "You're going to want to stand up for this next part..." and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. (At least I think he said that. I pretty much blacked out after I saw him on one knee and I have no idea what he actually said!) That moment was the most special experience I have ever had. Bruno then pointed out the photographer taking pictures of us and our families walking towards us. I was so overcome by emotion and love and happiness to not only be engaged to the most amazing man, but to also have our families celebrate our love!