Kevin and I met June 4th 2007, a year and a half ago (and 15 years ago).
I had moved up to Rohnert Park from San Diego, to sell condos for a developer (the story getting here was magical in itself). In June 2007, a few months before I was sold-out of the complex and already contemplating moving home, I met Kevin through the mortgage lender I’d hired for the project.
Mary and I had become friends over the year working at the Vineyard Villas together. When I mentioned I was tired of striking out with dates through an expensive "no good" service and asked her if she knew any eligible bachelors, she burst with excitement thinking about a guy she just helped (get a loan) in buying his first home.
Mary was already planning in her brain how to set-up up our meeting, without making it a "set-up". We were all going to meet up at Kerrin’s house, Kevin’s Realtor at the time (and Mary’s sister-in-law). Kevin thought he was coming over to "check out a cat for his new home". I had found a stray cat in the complex I was selling, who needed a good home. It was the perrfect scenerio - no pressure... Funny though how when Kevin came over, it was all women at the house. Even Karina, Al’s wife (a buddy of Kevin’s from work) was there too...to check me out, of course.
After I had arrived, gotten comfortable, met Karina and bonded with her, Kevin showed up. I was getting excited to meet this handsome man they all kept going on about (who by the way, had never been married or had any children and was also in his late 30's). When he walked through the gate and in to the house, the smile on my face was not for hiding. All the women had to hug him and say hello first, then Kevin came right up to me and sat down. When we met and started talking, the room and all the chaos in it completely disappeared. I had always heard stories of this happening, but this was truly happening for us both at the same time. It was real and powerful and we connected immediately. (We haven’t been apart since).
It was a week later, at Mary’s 50th birthday party, and our first date that we found out through conversation, we 'had met' 15 years ago. Kevin specifically remembers me being his waitress at the Koffee Klatch in Fairfax - a tiny little hole-in-the-wall diner that he happen to work right next to, in a tiny little off-the-beaten-track town. I had lived in Fairfax briefly, moving up from San Diego when I was 22. I moved back and forth from the Bay Area to San Diego for the next 15 years, only to find myself here again in the Bay Area now to stay.
I guess it goes to show that no matter what may keep you apart - timing, distance, life’s path...if you’re meant to be, fate (God) will bring you together.
And that’s OUR story!
We are getting married in the Occidental Community church. It's the white church with the tall steeple (bell tower), sitting on the hill above town. The church building is best described as your quenticential country church. It was the first structure built in Occidental over a hundred years ago, when the train ran through this once popular and booming mining town. Today Occidental remains just as small and quaint as the day it's first settlers came home. As the town adds it's own enchantment to the scene of our wedding, we hope you will ALL be swept away in the magic of the weekend.
Down the winding road from Occidental is a small community known as Camp Meeker. This once flourishing summer retreat get-away, for Italians all over the Bay Area, is now the home of many who enjoy life in the country and living in the woods. Nestled in the Redwood forest of Camp Meeker, is the town hall where the fun begins. We are so excited to share our day with you and hope that you will come with happy hearts.
Because our wedding is help in a remote area and considerably off the beaten track. We advise everyone traveling in from out of town to fly SouthWest (probably cheapest) into Oakland. From there you'll have to rent a car and drive about 2 hours North. It is WELL worth the trip, as we hope you have been enticed already by the charm of our destination town. It will be a vacation for all who can attend, and we hope you can take advantage of the extra (holi)day on Monday to enjoy nearby famous spots like the Russian River and Bodega Bay.
September 5, 2009 is a day Kevin and I have only dreamt of our whole lives. It is truly special because we realize that love knows no age or timeframes. We have found each other and can't wait to share our celebration of this miracle with all our family and close friends. Thank you for making it your goal to be with us - it means alot! Your presence will be the bonus to our magical day.
