How We Met

After a particularly rainy February and March of 2024, Easter was forecast to be a dry and sunny day. Megan, a mutual friend—knowing we both loved the outdoors, that all of us had recently navigated some challenging personal life experiences, and that we could all use a little sunshine—invited us on a hike along the Paradise flumes.

The flumes had been significantly damaged by past fires, and we were only able to hike for a couple of hours. Still, it gave us time to visit and take in the beauty of spring along the Feather River. Reluctant to part ways, we decided to continue the conversation over drinks and snacks at Sierra Nevada.

Up to that point, most of our conversation had been each of us catching up with Megan separately. But at the brewery, something shifted. I said something—neither of us remembers what—and it caught Corinne’s attention. She turned her chair toward me and asked a question. It was a small moment, but it marked the beginning of a different kind of dialogue between us.

Megan, who lives out of town and doesn’t get to see her Chico friends often, encouraged the two of us to stay in touch, knowing we were both looking to deepen our local connections. Before I even left the parking lot, I found Corinne on Facebook so that I could ask permission to share some photos from the hike. At least, that is what I told myself the reason was.

From that first message through the next three weeks, we texted constantly, sent voice messages, and spent time together—practically around the clock.

Then about three weeks in, Corinne, looking for excuses to spend time with me, invited me to Black Butte Lake to plan an upcoming camping trip. Later that evening, Corinne found the courage to tell me—at the end of a long texting conversation—that she’d been fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss me. I replied, “I wouldn’t be opposed.” And “Maybe surprise me sometime.”

The next day, we had our first kiss(es).

Our First Year (and Then Some)

After that first kiss, everything just kept unfolding—beautifully, intentionally, and sometimes wildly. Together, we’ve navigated a year and a half of growth, joy, challenge, and the kind of connection that only deepens with time.

From the beginning, our communication has been deep, easy, honest, vulnerable, safe, and intentional. We’ve also hiked, camped (just the two of us and also with friends and family), attended concerts, markets, plays, and Pride celebrations, and a wedding.

We’ve ridden in boats, vacationed in Mexico, and navigated sickness, surgeries, pet loss, injuries, caring for animals, a flood, home improvement projects, and the demands of our jobs. We also adopted two foster puppies—who were supposed to be small.

It has been a wildly adventurous, full-hearted year and a half of living life deeply—growing, healing, and building the healthiest relationship either of us has ever known. And when either of us asks the other, "How did I get so lucky?" the answer is, "You said yes to a hike."