It all started in February of 2021. Both living in the Central Valley of California, McKenna was working at her first big girl job, while Tom was still a baby in (grad) school. Being frustrated with the post-covid-lockdown dating scene, they both decided to try their luck with dating apps. And they got lucky!
Their first date was to a local craft brewery with fancy food trucks and live music. Tom agreed to pick McKenna up and drive them both, however upon meeting her for the first time at her house, Tom’s first words were “Can I use your bathroom?” This was obviously the right question to ask, because she said “Yes!” The rest of the evening was a blur of casual conversation and awkward questions, but they found out they have a lot in common. Over the next few dates, Tom met Oliver (McKenna’s cat) and McKenna met Butters (Tom’s dog), and both pets immediately decided that they needed to be the third wheel on every date. Little did they know Oliver and Butters would eventually meet (and become best friends).
Only six weeks after the first date, McKenna hoodwinked Tom into having dinner with her parents, the future in-laws. And over the next few months they found themselves spending more and more time together, meeting family all around, sharing experiences, and growing into a serious relationship. McKenna even “hooded” Tom at his PhD graduation ceremony (hooded means she lifted the hood onto his head)!
When Tom finally landed his big boy job, he had to move to the SF Bay Area and the distance between him and McKenna grew. However they made the effort to continue seeing each other every week by alternating driving. During this time, there were several more shared memories made, such as family weddings, travel to other states, concerts, sporting events, and even climbing Half Dome in Yosemite. Their relationship continued to thrive and eventually they decided to move into an apartment together in Pleasanton, CA, splitting their commutes evenly between work locations.
Life with long commutes has been tough, but that’s the sort of thing you do for love. McKenna and Tom don’t get much free time during weekdays, but they try to make up for it on weekends. Plenty more fun activities and memorable moments are lived every weekend and short vacation. Things like going to professional baseball games, attending live music concerts, dressing up for the Renaissance Faire, spectating the Scottish Highland Games are what McKenna and Tom do for fun. And don’t forget the Sunday morning hikes to mission peak or meeting friends for the occasional outing. Despite constantly searching for the next adventure, McKenna and Tom are also perfectly content with a lazy day at home relaxing in the company of the pets.
After a little over four years of being in a relationship, Tom finally decided to stop making McKenna wait and ask for her hand in marriage. It was a beautiful but windy day at the top of Haleakalā on Maui where he asked the question and presented a ring. And, just like that first day when he asked to use her bathroom, she said “Yes!”
