March, 2016. Blind date. Through a friend (Marian Nutley -- also in the wedding party. Killer person. Talented graphic artist). I (Taylor) had never met nor seen Gabrielle, aside from various instances of unsolicited Internet photo stalking. We met at a brewery in downtown West Covina on the day my older brother got engaged. We discussed music, social work, beer, family dynamics, YWAM, farm-life, and short stories about the figures housed inside crosswalk signals. At the conclusion of the evening, we exchanged numbers and went on a run a couple days later. Three years later and we've only been on four runs together.

Took place on May 5, 2019. Gabrielle thought my aunt and uncle were roadtripping down from the Oregon coast on their way to Phoenix, but wanted to stop and spend the day with us over lunch and a visit to the (esteemed) Huntington Gardens. Day of: I had made reservations for True Food Kitchen (a health food-inclined joint in downtown Pasadena) and informed Gabrielle that my aunt and uncle were running late and they would just meet us at the gardens. We finished lunch, trekked over to San Marino and gave my uncle a call to help sell the story a bit further. They told us they were "having a moment" and would see us down in the Australian Gardens. We obliged and headed down. Upon arrival, we settled down in a pre-scoped spot with a photographer friend and I read Gabrielle a letter I had written a few weeks prior. She said yes and we took some pictures and it was pretty rad. The evening concluded with a surprise engagement party with close friends and family in Pasadena. Everyone attending thought it was a surprise birthday party. It was a terrific evening. Stoked to continue the party in October.