We are getting married!

I was a bit nervous because we were in a global pandemic but I agreed to go on a date with Andrew. I remember the exact outfit he was wearing. It was a blue and white floral shirt, a white t-shirt, blue jeans, a blue mask, and a CSU Channel Islands hat. The moment we looked at each other from my doorstep, he seemed like he was a deer in headlights. Why was he shocked? Was I wearing too much eyeliner? Then I looked behind him and saw that he drove a red truck, hell no. Okay I'll just see how this goes. Anyway, it was awkward in the car (first dates are always kind of awk) and he asked me where was the nearest skatepark. I told him on Blythe St. but lord knows we aren't going there. I said let's skate at Balboa Park. And we had a fantastic time! After practicing not falling on my face, we sat by the artificial lake while blowing bubbles in the wind and talking smack about the ducks. Andrew was wondering what we were going to eat after spending hours at the park + he was a vegetarian, so I suggested El Cocinero on Sepulveda (best Mexican vegan restaurant in the US for sure) and we ate tacos, burritos, and coconut flan on the bed of his truck until the sun disappeared. After Andrew dropped me off to my house, I became a fan of Toyota Tacomas and also I was hoping Andrew and I were going to hang out again.

First, you have to understand some background. It's 2021, so it's mid pandemic and nobody is really socializing. Anyways, we began talking a bit beforehand about our hobbies, lives, etc. without meeting in person so this would be our first real time hanging out one-on-one. We agreed to meet in LA, and I was extremely nervous, but excited driving over. Everyone who has meet me knows I can be awkward in person, so I was trying my best to be normal but not boring. Fun fact, this is also when I met Manuel, Crystal's father, for the first time which was a treat. I remember pulling up to the house, hoping I wasn't late, and speaking with Crystal's parents before heading out to the park. We had talked about skating at the park, so I brought my board in the back of my truck. To be honest, we didn’t really plan all that far into it. The realization didn’t dawn on me until we got in the car and I asked where the nearest park was (young men, always plan the date!) but Crystal suggested Lake Balboa. The car ride was quiet until I got a phone call from a friend at the time asking if I could come hangout and I explained that I was on a date with Crystal and we both started laughing about it. Walking through the park gave us the opportunity to converse until we reached the water. Looking back it’s easy to see how small details can change your life. One sentence about lake biology led us into a full conversation about science, birds, and just having fun outdoors. Now the best part of any date, getting something to eat. I was vegetarian at the time, which I had failed to mention, so our original plan of getting Pokemon themed McDonald’s meals was out the window. Crystal suggested a vegan Mexican restaurant called El Cocinero which became our go to spot and a certified classic. Once we got our food we sat in the back of my truck and ate before I took her home. I remember getting home and thinking to myself that it was the best time and I couldn’t wait to see her again. And now I get to see her everyday! You’ll hear people talk about a perfect date and what that entails. I’ll always describe our first date because when you know, you know.