In 2014, I was a volunteer at an eco-lodge in the Amazon. Margarita arrived to take photos for a magazine. We swam in the river, got caught in the rain while I was guiding her through the jungle, and discussed our passions at my campsite. The next morning, as I was walking in from the woods, I saw her group leaving and rushed up to say goodbye. I softly kissed the corner of her mouth. Years later, I found her photography page online, where I saw a picture that she had secretly taken of me.

In 2025, we went to New York City for Marga’s birthday. It was by far our most blessed adventure yet, with plenty of help flattening the learning curve. Her cousins gave us a place to stay, expert subway insight, and a friendly guide who fast-tracked us to so many iconic sites (with prime photo ops to boot). We got VIP treatment on a very tight budget. Every meal was its own memorable experience, and I finally got to see The Book of Mormon! Who would have thought NYC could feel so stress-free?

We once agreed on two big things: neither of us wanted to get married or have children. But love has a way of changing life's trajectory. We recently tried hormone treatments for in vitro fertilization, which led to complications and emergency surgery. Once Marga has fully recovered, we hope to try IVF again, and $20,000 would be a major catalyst in starting our family. In the immortal words of Dr. Ian Malcolm, "Life... uh... finds a way," and perhaps this is it.