Amanda and Cody overlapped in acting school at PCPA in 2013, but didn't know each other! It wasn't until the world was shut down in 2021 that they met in a zoom play reading Amanda had organized. She needed another male actor, reached out to a mutual friend, Nate, who suggested Cody. Amanda knew of him and his reputation as a good actor, so she agreed and Cody in turn jumped on board to play the hero cop fighting molestation. A real meet-cute.

Neither person was "looking" for someone. Both were in fact actively not looking for someone. But Amanda kept casting Cody in all of the zoom play readings she organized. Chatter before and after eventually became hours' long zoom chats. 4-5 hours blearily through a screen and then struggling to stop texting after hanging up in the wee hours.

Once the world began cracking open a bit, they met up in Stockton to hang out in person for the first time. It wasn't until midnight shortly before Amanda was to leave for San Mateo (1hr 15min drive) at the end of a ritual goodnight prayer when Amanda said, "...and thank you for- -what are we??" She opened her eyes, "you go first" and in middle school fashion Cody said, "I like you" and she said, "I like you too".

What followed is a fortune in bridge tolls commuting to and from San Mateo and Stockton, an in depth education for Amanda by Cody in cinema, impassioned theological TedX by Amanda for Cody, hikes, a lot of sushi and Pad See Ew, 49er games, instagram reels, and quality time with each others' families. Acting in all its forms permeated throughout: doing a play together, writing screenplays, shooting movies, seeing plays, and waxing poetic about the craft.

But really, they still just can't stop talking. With Cody's propensity for rabbit holes, Amanda's surplus of words and their shared passion for truth, they intend to keep talking for as long as they can.

Note on the photo above: Ms. Colette Parsons was sitting in on a zoom play reading that Cody and Amanda were in and created this prophetic screenshot. Considering how opposite the two of them are in many ways, her call seemed random and wildly implausible. But Colette, you called, girl.