We met in high school in Spanish class. I saw Conner across the room and thought he was really cute so I chose to sit by him. Thinking of any excuse to talk to him, we became really close over the course of the year. With all my distractions, however, Conner basically speaks no Spanish... and he doesn't think this is a coincidence.

I took Marina out to our first date at the drive in movie theaters. It was pouring rain so we couldn't even see the movie. So we just spent the whole time talking and laughing. Eventually it got so bad we gave up and went back home. It was such bad conditions and so late at night, I ended up driving on the wrong side of the road but that didn't scare Marina off.

Santa Cruz is a special place for both of us as individuals and it has really been a focal point in our relationship. We each spent so much time there growing up, going to the boardwalk, and to the beautiful beaches. Before Conner went to college, we went on this big camping trip out there for his 18th birthday. Mike, one of his groomsmen, was there and a few other of his friends. When Conner went to college there, I visited him a lot. We would go on late night walks and have long talks since we missed each other. As we grew as a couple, we took a lot of trips down there. We make it this tradition to each shoot an oyster at the bottom of the wharf by the boardwalk. I love going out there. Every time it’s relaxing and we see a new part of Santa Cruz. Now, during COVID, it has been such a relief to go out there and maybe just take a walk on a beach and head back home. It gives us something to do and reminds us of all the memories we have together.

For Marina's birthday we planned a trip down to Disneyland. I already knew I wanted to propose to her and had bought a ring but didn't want her to see it. So, I hid it in a box inside of a box, inside of a box full of random things to throw her off. We drove down and I put the ring in my backpack to bring into the park with us. On our first day I kept debating when was the best time and place to ask her. It wasn't until our second day, her actual birthday, that I decided to do it on the Little Mermaid (her favorite Disney character) ride. While we were in line Marina said she needed something from my backpack and reached in to the same pocket I had hid the ring. Shocked, I snapped at her that she shouldn't be digging into my backpack. She was confused but we got on the ride and when we got to the end of the ride, where Prince Eric kisses Ariel, and I reached into my backpack and pulled out the ring and asked her to marry me.