It’s a love story

Y’all are actually reading this?

Alright, well…

The first domino falls when Tash goes to Cal. She joined two organizations as soon as she stepped on campus: a sorority (RIP) and Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN), the 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit of which she is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors.

Three bridespeople come from Tash’s time in BMUN: Ashley Njoroge, Chelsea Evans, and Kim Nguyen. One of the key decision-makers in her admission was guest Riyaz Shah, along with guest Xio Alvarez. But we’ll get back to that.

Years later and miles away, Conner arrived in Boston to start a new job at Fresenius, knowing not a single person on the East Coast, let alone in the Boston metropolitan area. So he did what any reasonable person would do and lied on the internet, specifically on Reddit.

He told the Boston forum that he liked hiking (lie), enjoyed concerts (half lie), and sports (truer than anyone could reasonably expect). Who else would see and believe that post but Riyaz, who would go on to sit through two hangouts with Conner, during both of which our beloved baldie fell asleep at their table. Despite this, Riyaz chose to continue being his friend.

Thanks to Riyaz’s generosity and lack of judgment, Conner went on to room with fellow BMUNer Pranay Patil and eventually officiant Kim Nguyen, which is where our worlds truly collide.

Kim is a visionary. They saw and see everything Conner is and has the potential to be. They are also one of Tash’s closest friends. For their birthday in 2022, they invited Tash out to Boston for their Shrek-themed birthday with the ulterior motive of introducing her to Conner. And it worked a little too well.

Tash and Conner played coy for a few days before they set the snowball rolling down the hill. At the end of her five-day trip, they were unsure of what to do—they wanted to keep seeing each other, they knew they had something special, but they’d only known each other for five days and lived on opposite coasts. Were they going to forsake all others and fly coast to coast to see if this was something?

On her last day, Tash was in a meeting when she got a text from her coworker, with whom she’d just spent the prior week at a planning offsite. Her coworker had tested positive for COVID-19. Tash ran into the Nut House’s upstairs bathroom, texted Kim for a test, and discovered that she was, in fact, positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, all residents of the Nut House had just had COVID the month prior and were safe from Tash’s exposure.

Call it what you want—fate, serendipity, bad or good luck—but the reason this party is happening is two lines on a COVID test. After Conner gave up his room for Tash to isolate in for two weeks, she went home calling him something else – boyfriend.

They spent the next year flying back and forth across the country getting to know each other’s friends, each other’s families, and most importantly, each other. Conner sees Zoe as his own, and together they’ve welcomed Lolo and Parker into the warmth of the home they share.

This union would not be possible without all of the people in this story and so many more. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our friends and the earnest welcome they’ve given each of us into their lives. This weekend is a celebration of their love, but also of the community that has helped it flourish.