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The story of James and Victoria begins on a Tuesday, which was normally a day Victoria went to book club.  Today, however, she had messaged her group to tell them she would be late, for she had promised to meet a guy for a quick drink. The gentleman’s name was James, and he was fresh on the return of his annual Fraternal Survival Excursion, where he and his brothers had braved the rugged forests of northern New Jersey for nearly 4 days. James, with lingering mosquito bites and a farmer’s tan that was rapidly fading to white, believed he had found everything that he wanted in life: a smart girl with a beautiful face, who also thought he was funny.  They had wanted to meet earlier but their schedules had never quite lined up. Victoria was very busy, but something about James had charmed her. And so, at a bar called the East End Tavern, an enthusiastic boy approached a perhaps semi-reluctant girl, and a conversation was begun.  They talked about life and whiskey, and about time spent at Yale and adventures overseas. They found common ground, and voiced disagreements with respect. Often the conversation would lull into a brief silence, as each of them pondered what the other had said. And maybe, in those moments, a feeling began to blossom. Their conversation touched on every aspect of their lives. Each came to understand the other’s perspective, formed by a lifetime of unique experiences, and yet shaped by a shared belief in compassion. They strove to be as fair to their fellow human beings as they were to themselves. As the evening wore on, they began to feel as though their life’s adventures had served the unique purpose of bringing them to this moment. Their brief conversation that night would brighten their eyes, open their minds, and fill their hearts. It was an understanding that became the foundation upon which their love would be built. The conversation that began that night continues today.  And Victoria never did make it to book club.