Welcome

There are lots of things you shouldn’t talk about on a first date. Exes, money, or children to name a few, but what about murder? When we met for coffee in Alameda for the first time, we bonded over a mutual love of true crime and crafting. When we first met for coffee in Alameda, neither of us knew we would be there long enough for the staff to ask us to leave so they could close up shop. We definitely didn’t know how over the next year, we would fall in love, move in together and become fiancés. It was a mere four months before a fateful trip to San Diego would give us so much time to talk and realize how much we aligned on life’s big questions. So much so that upon our return to the Bay, what was supposed to be a short stay to weather a heat wave would turn into a permanent co-habitation. While the pandemic shut down the outside world, we found each other and grew together in the safety our home. Who knew that two weirdos exchanging their favorite murder stories over a dating app would bloom into a beautiful young family ready to commit themselves to each other and to a brand new life full of adventure, happiness, and love!

Living together is great for a lot of reasons, but planning a surprise is not one of them. Courtney had a couple of simple requests regarding the proposal. Her parents approval, a genuine diamond, and nothing in public. All Michael needed was a day when Courtney was at work and out of the house. Thursday, Michael made the morning drive to Vallejo and asked for permission from Courtney’s mother and father. Friday, the ring arrived, shining in brilliance. Monday, Courtney went to work. While she was out, Michael bought champagne, setup candles and flutes, and prepped a slideshow of photos on the tv. He brought Courtney home from the bus stop and surprised her with her home transformed into a proposal haven. On one knee, with a back drop of music and photos of the two of them, Michael asked Courtney to marry him. A poignant piece of advice I’ve carried with me: The proposal should be a surprise; the answer shouldn’t be.