While Tyler was working at a Design/Build firm in Gamboa, Panama, he would fix up a dilapidated duplex after hours. One hot, humid afternoon he was digging a ditch in the backyard. From the balcony of the neighboring duplex came an angelic voice: "Do you want a beer?" Angie, who days earlier moved in next door, had just gotten home from working with frogs. As Tyler leaned on his pickaxe and squinted up at this beautiful being who had just propositioned him, he hoped one day he would be the one proposing to her. Obviously his answer was yes. That crisp opening of two cans of Balboa was the beginning of a long, at times frustrating, friendship. Here was the girl of his dreams, living just meters away, but unavailable. Soon thereafter Angie moved to Virginia to start her PhD . . . But they kept in touch and slowly kindled a more intimate relationship despite the long distance. Because of Angie's busy schedule and Tyler's remote field work, the only way they seemed to be able to communicate was by leaving Whatsapp voice messages for each other. It was decided anything over 3 minutes was too long, so 3 minutes at a time their friendship grew. Friendship wasn't enough for Tyler, but he had gotten stuck in the dreaded "friend zone." When a mutual friend moved to Guatamala in 2015, he had found the perfect excuse for them to travel together. Tyler discussed his strategy to break free from the friend zone with his drinking buddy Roubik. "Wait till the end of the trip to make your move." Roubik advised. "Because if you get rejected at least the whole trip isn't ruined." (Apparently Roubik didn't have a lot of faith in the two) Neither Angie nor Tyler could wait that long. They've been together since Day 1 in Guatamala. A year later, back in Gamboa, their friend Sergio stopped by for a visit. When he heard they were still together his first words were: "Against All Odds." So that has been our running joke ever since.

Después del trabajo regresé a casa preparada para un merecido descanso. Mientras abría una cerveza fría, escuché un fuerte ruido. Mi vecino nuevo, un gringo muy guapo que siempre sudaba mucho, estaba abriendo una zanja en el medio del jardín. Hacía mucha calor y le ofrecí una de mis cervezas. Nada del otro mundo. Ese año empecé a aplicar a programas de doctorados y pocos meses después me mudé a Virginia. En Gamboa, Tyler se convirtió en un buen amigo, principalmente servía como catador de mis inventos culinarios. Desde Virginia, nuestra amistad se mantuvo gracias a Whatsapp. Cuando nos conocimos, yo estaba soltera y el no. Cuando me fuí a Virginia el estaba soltero, pero yo no. Después del primero año del doctorado, regresé para empezar mi temporada de campo en Gamboa...soltera. Tyler no lo estaba. Solo amigos...no había otra opción. Y entonces, nos fuimos a Guatemala. "Solo amigos, somos solo amigos" eso repetía una y otra vez. Para hacer el cuento corto... me caso con mi mejor amigo.