Five years ago, having never been to Oregon, Jackie Googled “Portland” to see pictures of the place where she was considering moving. The quaint spot on a small harbor didn’t look so bad. Having completed her thorough due diligence, she accepted a job at Nike and moved her life west. Imagine her surprise when she landed in Portland, Oregon (not Maine) and in a town that looked nothing like the quaint pictures. But the surprises didn’t stop there. About one year after settling into her life in Oregon, she met K.C., the son of an alpaca farmer, who was living with his Nana!
Notwithstanding K.C.’s living situation, the two hit it off. K.C. showed Jackie what it was like to climb mountains and go days without showering in the backcountry. In return, Jackie showed K.C. what it was like to travel the world and eat Filipino food. These new experiences forged a once-in-a-lifetime relationship that grew closer each year. Three years after first meeting, K.C. planned the biggest surprise of all. On August 23, 2019, Jackie’s family flew to Portland and unbeknownst to Jackie, stayed the night at K.C.’s family farm in Oregon. The next morning, with a ring box stuffed in his pocket, K.C. nervously drove to the farm for a brunch with his parents. With Jackie’s family hiding in the house watching through a window, K.C. led Jackie outside where he asked her the most important question of his life. The girl from New Jersey said yes to the boy from Portland. Jackie’s family rushed through the doors out to the garden, surprising her once more. Almost two years from that magical date, the two will marry at the farm, just steps from where K.C. proposed.
Notwithstanding K.C.’s living situation, the two hit it off. K.C. showed Jackie what it was like to climb mountains and go days without showering in the backcountry. In return, Jackie showed K.C. what it was like to travel the world and eat Filipino food. These new experiences forged a once-in-a-lifetime relationship that grew closer each year. Three years after first meeting, K.C. planned the biggest surprise of all. On August 23, 2019, Jackie’s family flew to Portland and unbeknownst to Jackie, stayed the night at K.C.’s family farm in Oregon. The next morning, with a ring box stuffed in his pocket, K.C. nervously drove to the farm for a brunch with his parents. With Jackie’s family hiding in the house watching through a window, K.C. led Jackie outside where he asked her the most important question of his life. The girl from New Jersey said yes to the boy from Portland. Jackie’s family rushed through the doors out to the garden, surprising her once more. Almost two years from that magical date, the two will marry at the farm, just steps from where K.C. proposed.
