A Trip Down Memory Lane

Won and I were engaged on June 4, 2016. It was his birthday, and we dressed up for a fancy dinner at a steakhouse near the National Mall. I had no idea he was going to propose. When he suggested a stroll around the Monuments, I was mostly concerned about my impractical shoes. The hidden photographer captured the moment I realized what was happening.

I had always heard that when you meet your partner for life, you know it. I thought it was a load of bull. I can still give a dozen logical reasons why “soul mates” don’t exist, and romance is an illusion. And yet. I met Won. Online. He is nothing like the partner I would have planned for myself. The Universe has an uncanny and ironic way of confounding all my cynicism. When I said, “yes,” I was never more sure of anything in my life.

We were married on March 31, 2017, in front of everyone we love. It was never a question that it would be in New Orleans, where I grew up. Nowhere do they know how to throw a good party better than New Orleans.

My favorite part was the Second Line from our reception to the hotel at the end of the night. It was amazing to see everyone having so much fun. It felt like the entire City was celebrating with us, from our friends and family, to the random Chinese tourists who joined the dancing.

There wasn’t time after the destination wedding for an extended vacation, so we went back to work. And started saving, scheming, and planning. This trip to New Zealand is our delayed honeymoon.

March 3, 2018