Are you tired of hearing about COVID? How about a love story born out of unexpected times in unexpected places? It began in March of 2020, right after the mandatory shutdown. We met when Desirèe began work in the Safeway Deli to ensure employment during COVID times. We both remember the first time we saw each other. There was a moment on Desirèe’s first day that she came around the corner. Trevor was at one of the slicers, preparing cuts for a customer and he looked up just as she looked at him. For a moment, amidst all the chaos of new restrictions, long lines and short tempers there was familiarity, comfort, and excitement. Later that day Trevor was training Desiree on some of the deli and store procedures. They began talking about life and love when Trevor looked at Desiree, shrugged, smiled and said, “We’ll see who I end up with.” A natural friendship evolved between two coworkers. Late nights closing would lead to long conversations where a bond and trust developed. They had exchanged numbers for work reasons but Desirèe couldn’t deny the feelings she had developed for him. One night, after some liquid courage she hinted towards more developed feelings than just work friends and the seed was planted. Trevor knew then, maybe this girl is the one for me.

By late March 2021 Desi had moved onto a better job opportunity so time spent with Trevor at work came to an end. It had been a few months since she had texted Trevor, letting him know that she carried about him but she also had a rule against dating coworkers. Now things were different. They had hung out now outside of work with a few other folks and found it easy. Desiree had a desire to try one of those city scavenger hunts and thought it would be a perfect activity to break the ice and see if something natural would come about. She asked if he would like to do a Tacoma Scavenger Hunt and Trevor said he would love to! They agreed on a date and time. It was never specified as a “date” but it wasn’t specified as a “non-date” either. They flowed through the downtown streets of Tacoma, laughing, having fun finding the internet guided questions, taking pictures with each other and so forth. After they finished the hunt neither of them were ready to leave each other so they stayed with each other searching now for good food. They enjoyed each others company until they both were tuckered out. That night they texted nonstop. Since his family was out of town she invited him to spend Easter with her family in 2 days, another invite he did not turn down. To this day we still ponder if this was our first date or not.

It was Easter! Trevor was going to meet Desi’s family and they hadn’t even gone on a date yet! Another easy time was in store for them. She showed him their family farm. He loved what she was wearing, this beautiful girl walking through this garden, red hair shining and her floral kimono blowing in the breeze. Her smile, her excitement, her laugh. This charisma that just makes him feel excited to be around her. He blended well with them and they spent several hours together. They would meet eyes from across the yard or across the room and share these pleasant, rousing moments. Keeping with the hunt theme of the weekend, they hid eggs for the kids. At one point they were grabbing something from Desi’s room and Trevor plops down on the bed and said “You know, I can really see myself in here.” Cue coy smile. They both had a feeling that he was right. Within a matter of weeks these two would be nearly inseparable.

One day had come and gone since spending Easter together. This night they were going on their first “official” date. Something quiet, serene and somewhat private, so a sunset picnic on the beach was decided. It’s is one of Desi’s favorite things after all. We headed to the Fox Island bridge boat launch which has beautiful views during Golden Hour. This is captured in our engagement photos, which you’ve seen by now, where we had many shots taken at this spot to symbolize our first evening together here. We’ve spent many evenings here since, often with the kiddo now, eating sandwiches, quenching a thirst and adding personas to the birds and seals in the water. If you look closely in the reflections shot of our engagement photos above, one of these seals can be seen between Trev and Desi. Just poking his head above the surface. Kind of giving us his blessing. This night meant a lot to both of us. The anticipation of someone wanting to see romantic potential is always fun but also scary. It means vulnerability, transparency, trust, and a lot of work. Both Desi and Trevor manage their mental health struggles and the topic of mental illness came up. Trevor was expressing the relationship struggles someone with schizophrenia will experience and how he has stayed out of romantic relationships because of it. He said “why would you even want to be with someone who is so broken? I mean, I can’t be ‘fixed’ Desi.” She just so happened to have a lot of experience and knowledge about neurodivergence, mental health and serious illness. She had her own diagnoses and had been a single mom of an Autistic kiddo. She knew the real struggles. It had become comforting to be in the company of another adult who saw the world as she and the kiddo did. Her heart sank that he would think himself unlovable. “I don’t see you as broken,Trevor. I see you as whole. I know meds are a part of your life and always will be. I’m sorry that this world has a hard time understanding what it’s like in your mind but I do understand. Not to the degree you experience but I know about chaos amidst in our minds. You aren’t broken to me. You have an incredible heart and amazing mind, I love being around you and I want to be around you more.” “Then be my girl” he said. “Only if you’ll be my guy.” “I’ll be your guy…… can I kiss you?” “Yes please.” And that’s when he learned he could be loved by her and she learned he really is her one and only guy.

We had talked about it. We had said “I love you” since after the first month. By month 2 we were living together. By month 3 we went to Vegas for Trevor’s 30th birthday and family member made bets on if we would get hitched in secret (we didn’t, but we did joke about it). We already felt an amazing connection that we knew we would work hard for. We had even looked at rings and decided what we liked. On our one year anniversary we were looking at rings, deciding what we liked. I loved the idea of his birthstone as the gem instead of a diamond since I was a teen. I picked an oval peridot with little diamond stones set in rose gold. He was like “Here, add it to your cart, I’ll send you the money for it!” We made a deal that he would give it to me when he was ready and that once it was sent I wouldn’t look at the tracking so I wouldn’t know when it arrived. May 14th came around and I had just gotten home from running errands. I walked into our room and he stood there, that grin that says he’s hiding something. I said “Hi babe. What are you doing?” “Um, I have something for you.” and he pulls out this little grey box. I gasp as he opens the box. I have ADHD so I quickly start talking about how pretty it is, how his gemstone with the rose gold was so shiny, kind of taken away by this ring in this box that was for me. He says “Here, let’s see if it fits.” and slides it on my finger “Desiree Whittenberg, will you marry me?” We all know what I said!