A long time ago at a highschool in Fair Oaks two students decided to take Spanish: a brilliant and beautiful overachiever and a Mexican who failed to learn much Spanish but learned his two favorite words ever.

Robert had been taking a Spanish Class every year since 8th grade, but was luckily still taking Introductory Spanish his Junior year. Fate sat him next to a smart, beautiful and snarky Morgan Johnson. Unfortunately, Robert was in the midst of a doomed high school romance and only friends with Morgan. However, her smile, laugh, and wit were remembered for over a decade.

At Folsom Lake College, fate brought them back together. They ran into each other on the second floor, and Robert was holding a…popsicle stick? The future lovebirds chatted but Morgan Johnson had class to attend and Robert’s charms were no match for Ms. Johnson’s punctuality. For weeks, Robert tried to “bump” into the marvelous missed connection, but it remained missed…or so Robert says, Morgan doesn’t remember any of this at all.

Robert flew south for the winter (but also for college), while Morgan went to Chico. From there, the restless moose mosied over to Virginia to become better at arguing while Morgan began to climb the corporate ladder closer to home. Then, the thread that would eventually pull them together came into being, a global pandemic. COVID hit and the world shut down.

Robert Colter Esq. dodged the dastardly virus for over two years, but shaking hands and being nose to nose with clients all day isn’t really within the CDC guidelines and in March 2022 COVID got him! For three days Robert writhed in pain, but in his fugue state he managed to do what any man on the brink of death would do…he opened Bumble and swiped.

Morgan Johnson was actually following protocol, wearing a mask, social distancing, and not getting sick while still going to work (she actually avoided COVID until 2023 when Robert brought it home to her, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves).

It was then, 14 years after their first meeting, that luck paid out and they were brought back together. Apparently Robert’s COVID brain came in clutch because he had swiped right on a beautiful woman, and he must’ve done something right because she swiped right on him too. Morgan Johnson asked Robert, “marry, murder…’cuddle’” regarding the three places he had lived. Robert, ever the avid student, didn’t answer her question, instead he responded “you went to Bella Vista, you’re snarky!” Robert and Morgan Johnson continued to message for days, and then met up…as soon as the CDC advised it was okay.

For three dates straight they met up shortly after work and closed down the breweries they met at. Their weeks were defined by the joyful time they shared, and the countdown until the next time they could be together. Robert quickly concluded that their relationship was different than any prior and it had to be serious…and he didn’t say this to Morgan Johnson for fear of scaring her away. She knew it too though.

Robert’s friends taunted saying “oh, the robot has grown a heart, he’s in love” and, they were right. Robert loved Morgan Johnson. He loved the little family they had made. Robert couldn’t tell her though, he aspired to play it cool, men don’t just blurt out that they’re in love. So Robert waited for the perfect moment and one day, while he was taking out the trash, Morgan Johnson decided to block him from getting back in the house, so he took this perfect moment to announce out of the blue “I love you.” That law degree paid off, the master orator nailed it.

They moved in together that same year, and from there Morgan, Cogs and Robert formed their little family. Morgan Johson has filled his life with love, support and a thoughtful structure. Robert has contributed…chaos, laughter, stability, support…and chaos. Their shared adventure largely persisted within California, but also took them to a host of national parks and eventually to Great Falls, Virginia. With the blessing of her parents, and utter joy, Robert proposed on 3/20/24, and Morgan Johnson said yes.

After many intro to Spanish classes, and a year of Duolingo, Robert still isn’t very good at Spanish, but he learned “Morgan Johnson” the two best words in any language…but later this year she’s going to add one more word to her name, a word that starts with “C” a word that Robert is happy to share with Morgan Johnson for the rest of their lives.