We first met in November 2018 in Washington, DC while at a work-related Gala and attending on behalf of our respective companies. Renan had been asked to share on stage his beautiful voice and open the program with U.S. National Anthem. Renan had traveled all the way from Nebraska, and it was the crazy busy week before Thanksgiving. During the event, we met for the first time, exchanged brief conversation over cocktails and had our picture taken. It was a wonderful, enjoyable, and fun-filled evening full of celebration, advocacy, and community. Several years later in 2023, we reconnected at another work function in Nashville, TN, but this time was different. We were both older, richer in life experiences and at novel places in our lives. We shared numbers and promised to stay in touch. Another business trip to Palm Springs, CA, chance encounter with an unexpectedly strong embrace and the spark had been lit. Later, Renan would visit Columbus, Ohio for the first time and experience the idyllic Amish country, and James would meet Renan’s Mama in Marietta, GA. After becoming engaged in Atlanta, GA, we would fully meet each other’s families, friends and each other’s furry children and spirit animals. From trips between Ohio and Georgia, to New York, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, California, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami and beyond, we have learned many special things about one another – we treasure our families, fiercely love our pets, are committed to health and wellness, love to travel, enjoy history, discovering cultures, studying languages, all things Mayan, learning new things and of course Filipino food. But most importantly how much we enjoy spending time with each other while sharing and creating wonderful new memories…and the rest as they say, is history.