Let's do this thing!

How Eric Remembers: We were put into the same group on Orientation day, and performed some sort of scavenger hunt on campus with students from all of the different schools on campus. Most people in the group were still acting like they were on some sort of interview, but right from the very start Janika started giving me crap, and it was almost like I had known her for years. After we wiped the floor with all of the other teams, (I’m pretty sure we did not win) I saw her again at an informal meet up at a local bar. We talked again then and would see each other at various parties at school. I’m pretty sure she just randomly followed me on snapchat one day so you could say things were getting pretty serious. We started texting more and more and Jani invited me to a bonfire social event. I’m a very busy man, and simply couldn’t fit it into my schedule (I was probably having a beer in my pajamas and couldn’t be bothered) Sometime around thanksgiving one of my good friends and his new girlfriend (soon to be wife) was in town. Did I know Jani had a significant other at the time? Maybe. Did I know that if I told her it was a double date she would likely bail? Maybe. Did I casually leave that part out? Definitely. My plan worked like a charm although you could say Janika was a little bit embarrassed as she rolled up to the double date. We continued to talk through the holiday season, and I started to get more and more impatient about being just a friend, and finally overcame my non-confrontational attitude and told her how I felt. She told me she felt the same, and we would revisit it after winter break. As soon as we both got back we popped on Zoolander, and the rest was history.

How Jani remembers: Our story is a great one. I had just moved up to the Bay Area to begin PA school. At the first day of orientation we were put into little groups for an “interprofessional activity”, which basically meant each group had two medical school students, two pharmacy school kids, and one PA student. Eric and I were in the same group. Within the first 5 minutes of this activity, I was hooked. I’ve never been able to explain exactly what it was about him that day, but it was undoubtedly something. Maybe it was his spit-fire witty remarks, or the way he thought about the medical case we were working on in a completely different way that I would have. It was something. After the activity was over, I found myself standing in the corner of the gym, watching him across the room. I think I stood there for a solid five minutes before realizing that I was being a total creep. A classmate of mine came up to me, I had met her twenty minutes prior, and I said to her “see that guy over there, I’m going to marry him.” She, rightfully so, thought I was mad. I was in a relationship when this initial meeting happened, so I decided to try and make Eric my ‘best friend’ so that I could get to know him. It didn’t work. He was great at rejecting me in all possible fashions of the word. I once invited him to a bonfire and he wrote back “nah, I’m good thanks.” OUCH. But don’t worry, I’m not a quitter. Eventually, I had a beer bottle candle making party at my house and he finally decided to oblige, and obviously fell in love with me that night and the rest is history. Okay, maybe it didn’t happen that instantaneously, but we’ll never know. Three-ish years later, here we are, planning a wedding and lifetime of guaranteed adventure.

Eric planned the perfect proposal at Janika's favorite spot: Balboa Park. While they walked to the proposal destination, Jani's family and best friends hid in the shrubs and at the Prado Restaurant to take pics and add to the surprise. When she said yes, the happy couple received cheers from the Prado patio and some free glasses of bubbly. Eric regrets getting down on one knee so soon into his speech, but not asking! Jani regrets wearing a jean jacket tied to her waist that day, but not saying yes!