Our Story
Jessica and I met in 2021, living at opposite ends of the same apartment building in Sheridan. She had caught my eye repeatedly. A beautiful, six-foot-tall, dark-haired volleyball player is hard to miss. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous to talk to her. Rejection from a beautiful, tall woman tends to hurt. So I took the coward's way out and downloaded Tinder to see if she was single.
Luckily she was. The first time we really hung out was a hike through Tongue River Canyon. We got to know each other a little, but what I remember most is her tucking flowers into my backpack all along the trail. Being around her felt like being a kid again, all fun and glee, and somehow like we were already family.
From there we were friends. She'd come over to play video games, and I'd tag along to her open volleyball nights. We really enjoyed each other's company. We played a lot of Guitar Hero. Jessica will tell you she's better than me... but I stand by that it's only on medium difficulty.
In mid-2023 we took a trip to California: beaches, state parks, San Francisco. It was the easiest trip I've ever been on. Everything between us just felt natural. The only time I was stressed was watching her climb the giant rocks, wet from the spray and wind, while spotting from below with sweaty hands and her refusing to listen to me :)
Shortly after, we made it official, and at the end of that year we moved to Salem, Oregon, where we've lived ever since.
On October 18th I drove her out to Bob Creek, a spot on the Oregon coast south of Newport where we love looking for creatures in the tide pools at low tide. She knew what was coming, and I knew she knew, but I was nervous nonetheless. The waves were so loud she couldn't hear a word of the proposal. Thankfully she knew what was happening and said yes anyway.
She is my everything. A beautiful soul who loves and cares passionately and deeply. I'm constantly impressed by her determination and her ability to solve problems. The way she loves and cares for her friends and family is beautiful. As you all know, she is a joy to talk to, bounce ideas off of, and confide in. I love her wit, her charm, and every version of her laugh. I love how we goof around and keep each other from getting too serious. She entertains my ideas, talks me out of the bad ones, and is there to say "I told you so" when the bad ones inevitably fail. She is one of the toughest people I know.
Sidney
What's Next
After our wedding we will be moving to Penang, Malaysia, and will most likely be living in George Town.
