We met in late 2022. I had recently moved to Portland, OR and Xander, a nearly 20-year resident, offered to meet and tell me about town over drinks. We couldn’t stop talking. Our connection was evident but during the pandemic we had both experienced hardship and loss so finding true love wasn’t on our radar. In Spring 2023 we took an impromptu road-trip to San Francisco to see a screening of a Nicolas Cage movie, our favorite actor, and our love was undeniable. A few weeks later Xander proposed.

Before our wedding, we agreed, no speeches. So I was a bit wary when Kristin had a friend whisk me onstage during our reception at the mic. The band started again and Kristin sang “Crazy He Calls Me” by Billie Holiday, one of my favorite songs. I had held it together all day, but I cried, looking at the most beautiful and wonderful woman I had ever met, holding my hand and singing into my soul. She kept this surprise from me until this moment. They never even rehearsed. And it was perfect.

If we win, we would travel to Europe and Mexico to better learn about our respective heritages together. We would also start to make our series of black and white silent film shorts we’ve created scripts for, employing our talented friends along the way. Finally, we would make a sizable donation to Paws and Stripes, a nonprofit organization in New Mexico that takes rescue dogs and trains them to be service animals for our proud veterans suffering from PTSD, helping to save two lives at once.