Anna and Derrick met during lunch in eighth grade on the lawn of Black Mountain Middle School. Derrick was with friends he had known since elementary school and Anna was joining a new group — they count themselves lucky to still call many of these people friends. Anna and Derrick stayed close friends through high school, dated the summer before senior year, went to prom with the same group of friends, and then went their separate ways to college: Derrick to Merced, California and Anna to Hyde Park, New York (and also Massachusetts, NYC, and Los Angeles). They stayed in touch and when they happened to be in San Diego at the same time, they found they always had a strong connection with one another. After reconnecting in early 2015, Derrick accompanied Anna on a road trip from California to Massachusetts. Five days, dozens of hours of driving, and many adventures later, they were even closer than before, though they were never in the same place at the same time. This seemed even more true when Anna moved to Homer, Alaska in late 2015. However, they traversed the distance with texts, phone calls and Facetime until Derrick expressed what Anna was too timid to say: they wanted to spend their lives together. On August 8, 2016, Derrick moved to Alaska and Anna and Derrick were no longer apart. Together they have grown and faced new life challenges. On August 16, 2017, Derrick surprised Anna with a ring in an aptly named book — a perfect proposal for a life-long bookworm from the man who knows her better than anyone. It took time, but over the years they fully realized their love for each other. It is with great joy that Anna and Derrick invite you to share in their journey by bearing witness to their wedding and celebrating their marriage on August 10, 2019.