They caught each other's eye only briefly when going outside to water plants or get the mail. There they were, from behind the curtains, peeping on the mysterious neighbor who lived across the parking lot. In the small town of Taos where everyone knew everyone, they didn't know one another. There was a picnic table where Jes would sit and rest after tending his garden (which grew out of the street curb). Kalin came home one day after buying groceries and Jes yelled from across the parking lot, "Hey! Neighbor.. wanna beer?!!" Kalin put her groceries away and joined Jes and the other neighbors at the table. Soon after that, they were sitting on the couch of her apartment late into the nights drinking wine and debating whether the universe was made of chaos or order. In 2020, a global pandemic meant smaller social circles and less to do around town. They chose to spend that time with each other. They often laid on the floor listening to records, went on hikes to the river and walks around town, and (when it reopened) frequently enjoyed prickly pear margaritas on the Taos Inn patio. Quarantine pals grew into so much more. Jes moved to Los Lunas in November of that year to work on his teaching career. Spending more time in Los Lunas than in Taos - Kalin moved to the area the following March. A tiny apartment by the train tracks was too small for the two, so Kalin moved in with Dorie for the time being. Searching high and low, they finally found a house to rent near the road in a town not far from where Jes had grown up. There they learned to live together as a couple, as friends and partners. It was in that house, that they began to build a home. The only thing that was missing was the actual building. Achieving the impossible, they put their heads together and bought a house in Albuquerque in September of 2024. It is in this house that they began their garden, their business Remedios New Mexico and the rest of their lives. Kalin was at work on a beautiful November day, leaving Jes alone to sit in the garden. As the sun moved slowly across the sky, Jes lit a fire and sat to enjoy the coming evening. When Kalin got home she called through the house but got no reply- meaning Jes was probably outside. Jes had two chairs pulled up by the fire and as Kalin sat down they began reminiscing on the journey and the gratitude for the beautiful life they had built. Jes reached for her hand, pulled out a ring and said "...would you marry me?" And here we are.