How We Met

It was the first of orientation for all the freshmen at UC Santa Cruz before classes had even started. At lunch in the Porter dining hall, the cafe was bursting with chatter as the new students got to know their classmates. Kirsten found a relatively quiet table near the back of the room where Max was sitting. After talking for a long time, they learned that they had a lot in common. Kirsten appreciated that Max was quirky (this was back when he had a flip phone), nerdy and down to earth.

They didn’t make any effort to keep in touch, but they were reconnected again soon through their mutual friends. Over the next several months they ended up spending more and more time together, exploring quirky Santa Cruz book stores, going on walks through the redwoods, and studying together. They helped each other through the stresses of exams, difficult roommates and a lack of sleep (mostly courtesy of the aforementioned difficult roommates). Max soon learned to appreciate Kirsten’s sunny disposition, kindness, and integrity.

Everyone knew before they did that they liked each other.

During that summer break, Kirsten’s lovely sister Kathryn, knowing how her sister felt about Max, made quick work of playing match maker to create the excuse for Kirsten to visit Max where he lived in San Francisco, while she and her mom made a day of shopping in the city. Kirsten contacted Max and they agreed to hang out. It was very specifically “not a date”, but by the end of the day they shared their first kiss. They have been dating ever since.

The Proposal

Max had been impatiently waiting to propose for a while.We had a romantic trip for the two of us planned to go to Belgium, and Kirsten had hinted that that would be the perfect place for him to propose. Wanting to create some element of surprise, he very slyly said he would love to propose in Bruges, but unfortunately there was no way the ring would be ready in time, so it would definitely not be happening on our trip.

Despite the lie, which she partly bought, Kirsten absolutely knew it was coming. After going out for a nice dinner, Kirsten expressed her interest in the pretty horse drawn carriages that were always in the city center and asked to take one. He agreed and they set off. When Max heard that the carriage ride would take them through the town then stop right across from the Lake of Love to take a photo, he knew it would be the perfect opportunity to propose.

Even though she saw it coming, Kirsten was still completely surprised that he both did have her ring, and that it was exactly what she wanted.

Kirsten and Max have been living happily together in their cute 1 bedroom duplex in the historic downtown area of Sunnyvale. In Spring 2025, they adopted kittens, Sunny and Montie who are now almost a year old.

Kirsten and Max have now been together for 7 years, and are looking forward to many more years together.