When we first met in medical school, we were shocked to learn that our favorite animal was the same (🐢), that we both spoke Shanghainese, and that we had the same passion for food (spicy for Shirley, non-spicy for David). We instantly bonded over countless little things and even exchanged regular piano/waltz lessons amidst our busy lives as medical students. Through the many hours we spent studying, working at the same homeless shelter, and going on Trader Joe's runs, we grew closer as friends and found ourselves becoming life partners. Like the dinners we cooked together, our love began as a slow simmer to become the brilliant flame that it is today.

One Wednesday during our 2nd year of medical school, we found ourselves with a rare afternoon off. Craving soup, we headed to Woodhouse Fish Co and chowed on some clam chowder and lobster rolls. We then topped it off with our first taste of Salt & Straw. We didn't realize it at the time, but that was the first of many more dates to come! Our first official date was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The moment David stepped out of the car, he got pooped on by a seagull! Luckily the rest of day went much smoother - we got to pet some sting rays, admire the otters, and enjoy a beautiful sunset. We ended our day with fish 'n chips and clam chowder (notice a theme here?).

We were thrilled to both match at Yale for residency (Shirley in pediatrics, David in general surgery). After graduating from UCSF, we packed our lives (and our four turtles) into David's Chevy Malibu and set our GPS to New Haven, CT. We smuggled our turtles into every hotel room, binged Avatar, ate fancy steak dinners and deep dish pizza, almost ran out of gas, and got a speeding ticket. Shirley also gave David his first pandemic haircut, setting the precedent for the next two years! As we drove down endless miles of road, we shared our hopes and dreams for us a couple heading into a new chapter of our lives. After arriving in New Haven safe and sound, we settled into our new apartment downtown. We began our careers as doctors, training in the unprecedented era of COVID-19, and took care of several mutual patients together. One year later, we were fortunate enough to buy our first home in the beautiful town of Hamden, CT.

As the spot that sparked our love, San Francisco was destined to be where the proposal would take place. In the 24 hours prior to the proposal, we pulled an all-nighter moving from our apartment into our first home, bought a second car, and packed for our early morning flight to San Francisco. Under the guise of a belated Mother's Day dinner, Shirley excitedly dressed up for a day in the city. We first met some of our medical school friends for lunch. According to plan, Shirley suggested going to Lands End for a short hike before picnicking by the water. Once we reached the Labyrinth, David passed off his phone to get a picture, took a knee, and pulled out the ring. No words were needed - just hugs and tears of joy. The surprises weren't over yet! On the way back from the Labyrinth, the entire Zhao family jumped out from behind the bushes to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Later that night, rather than having a Mother's Day dinner, we gathered around a campfire at Spark Social with some of our most beloved friends to celebrate this unforgettable day.

During the precious moments we have outside of the hospital, we continue to grow as a couple and as best friends. We encourage each other to become stronger partners, fiercer doctors, and greater contributors to our beloved communities. We love chasing each other around our new home, watching our plants sprout new leaves, and lighting candles just because. We enjoy going on runs through our neighborhood and hope that we'll soon be joined by our future dog. We take comfort in the cozy blankets scattered around the house and the soups that we make in our Instapot. Thank you for being some of the most important people who have shaped us into who we are today. We're so blessed to be celebrating our marriage this fall and can't wait for you to join us!