I moved to Santa Cruz about six months into the pandemic, excited but nervous to start a new chapter in my career as a physical therapist. It was my first day at the new job, and just as I approached the front door, I was stopped for a routine temperature check—a moment that would turn out to be anything but routine. He was the one standing there with the thermometer, and when our eyes met, there was an instant connection. What started as a quick encounter turned into small conversations, and before long, we became close friends. Over time, our friendship blossomed into something deeper, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, we can’t wait to celebrate our next chapter with you all!