On their first date, Duncan and Isabela each nursed one drink and closed down the bar at a cozy table outside on a busy New York City street. Isabela was struck by Duncan’s curiosity, openness, and radiant smile, while Duncan was drawn to Isabela’s kindness, beauty, and curiosity. The next few months were filled with new adventures, lots of homemade pizzas, dancing, and weekend trips for Boat (their cat) to Isabela’s place. Duncan knew he wanted to spend his life with Isabela as he learned the depth of her kindness, curiosity, and love. Isabela knew she wanted to be with Duncan forever each time he continued to show up for her with empathy, acceptance, support, curiosity, and open-mindedness. Duncan was ready to marry Isabela for a long time, so they decided on a mutual proposal with Isabela proposing first. Isabela was so excited with her plan all set to propose at a beautiful and memorable spot close to her heart in California. Two days before her planned date of proposal, Duncan and Isabela wandered up a small dirt path in Big Sur, CA to find a tiny bench on a hillside overlooking endless ocean and fields of wildflowers. Because Duncan knows Isabela so well, he had suspicions that she was going to propose on this trip. So, at this magical spot in Big Sur overlooking the ocean, he wove a small ring out of a nearby plant, improvised a little speech, and beat her to the question! She said yes of course, and two days later, Isabela continued with her plan. She proposed to Duncan on a different field overlooking the ocean, and he said yes of course! Duncan had joked that he wanted Isabela to propose to him with a house and a kitten, so Isabela gave him a small ceramic key she had crafted with a kitten on it as a promise of all the beautiful things to come in their future together.