We're getting married!

The place, Solana Beach, California. The date, July 4th, 2008. Yes, 2008… A cool ocean breeze cuts through the afternoon heat. Palm trees sway, dancing against a sun-drenched, deep-blue sky. At a raucous house-party, a young woman sits on a barstool, leans against a wall drinking a michelada. Nearby a young man chugs a beer, shoots a shot of tequila. He glances at her and raises his eyebrows. She looks at him and is like, you’re an idiot. But the point is, she looks at him. And so this epic love story begins.  Yvette and Craig owe their meet-cute moment to their friends. You see, Craig and his roommates were hosting the party and it just so happened that Yvette’s group of friends knew Craig’s group of friends and brought Yvette to the party with them.  While this was how the two love birds met, it was not their first date… A couple of weeks later, Yvette and Craig’s friends all got back together for opening day at Del Mar Race Track. Where the surf meets the turf. Bets were made. Drinks were drunk. Good times were had. And Craig nearly died when he tried to impress Yvette by telling a corny joke while standing up on top of a double-decker bus.  And yet this still wasn’t their first date… It took some effort, but Craig finally convinced Yvette to go on a proper dinner-and-a-movie date. And so on July 24, 2008, Craig picked up Yvette at her house. It was just the two of them. They dined at Rubio’s Coastal Grill (big spender!) and then popped over to cinemas to see The Dark Knight. The 24th of each month became their “moniversary,” making sure to see a movie on that day each month.  

Fast forward and it’s now the Fourth of July weekend, 2019. At that time, Yvette lived in San Francisco and Craig in Los Angeles. Their hearts just a 55 minute, $39 Southwest flight apart. But for this special weekend, they met in San Diego, where it all began. The reason? A much-needed push, an ultimatum if you will, had been made. Cue the dramatic music… The trip to San Diego began with a stay in Little Italy, just outside of downtown. On the evening of the Fourth, fireworks rang out over the bay. The rockets red glare. The pressure was on. And, well, phhhbbbttt, Craig screwed it up. Missed the moment. Might have been cold feet, but maybe it didn’t feel right since they weren’t in Solana Beach. Maybe? And so the next day they relocate the 20 or so miles north to Solana Beach. They revisit their old stomping grounds. Literally, walk in their footprints from just 11 short years earlier.  The place, Solana Beach, The date, July 5th, 2019. A cool ocean breeze cuts through the afternoon heat. Palm trees sway, seemingly dancing against a sun-drenched, deep-blue sky. Yvette has a michelada and Craig chugs a beer… No, just kidding. They take a walk and as the sun begins to dip they find themselves at a picnic table in Fletcher Cove Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, about 100 yards as the crow flies from where they first met.  At that picnic table, the proposal was made. And the proposal was accepted.  Better late than never, right?