*SERIES* “Love & A Photo”: Kelly and Brian

Name

K = Kelly (aka Flying Mermaid)

B = Brian (aka B the Bike aka SequoiaFast)

Age

K: 32 technically. I usually feel and act like I’m 7

B: 32 and trying to age in reverse

Lifes’ Work

K: My day job is a writer at a clinical research institute. That is definitely NOT my life’s work. Life’s work = photography, playing with art, being the play leader, the one who is the first to get silly and play and encourage others to play as well, shining light

B: To gain knowledge and enlightenment, bask in Love, cherish friends and family, engage in creative endeavors and actively search out opportunities for adventure.

What city do you live in?

K: Durham, NC  -

B: Ditto

How long have you been together?

K: This is where our story gets interesting. We’ve been married for three months now, and this time around, we have been together for just over a year and a half. But we were together for a year in college (97-98). We didn’t speak or see each other for about 10 years. I googled him a few years ago, had to e-mail his boss because I couldn’t find his e-mail address..and about two years after I e-mailed his boss….he wrote back to me, in November 2007.

B: We have been together in spirit ever since we first fell in love. After being a couple for about a year we separated in 1998. We have always been each others ‘one’ despite our physical separation. I had a girlfriend when Kelly emailed me in 2006. I knew I couldn’t respond to her email, but I also couldn’t let her email go. I kept her email in my office desk and it traveled with me when I switched jobs. After breaking up with my girlfriend I worked up the courage to see if Kelly’s email address was still active. I contacted her in November 2007 and then told her in 2008 that I never wanted to be without her again. Frankly, she’s amazing!

How & where did you meet?

K: We met in college, through our mutual friend Chris

B: We met in college, but our first date was seeing James and the Giant Peach on campus.

What was your first impression?

K: I think I fell in love with B almost as soon as I met him. Funny, handsome, fun, silly, passionate, totally willing to be a dork or goofball like me, up for fun and adventures.

B – Kelly was quirky, funny and genuine. She was refreshingly honest at age when most people are trying to be something they are not.

Describe your first date.

K: We watched James and the Giant Peach at the college movie theater..the movie melted! The whole time, I was sooo hoping he would kiss me. We’d been friends for over a year at that point, and I of course always loved him, and waiting for him to want me was killing me!

B: I felt that both Kelly and I were nervous. I was not particularly suave in college (some things never change) so I hadn’t known that Kelly was even interested in me. It was like magic when the movie frame got stuck on the screen and melted. The universe gave us an easy marker to never forget our first day. I walked her back to her room after the movie and we kissed for the first time.

Tell me about the most funny thing your partner ever did to “impress” you.

K: I think of two kids in love, going out for a Valentine’s Day/B’s birthday dinner, underage, dressed up for a fancy dinner, ordering Strawberry Daiquiris and hoping we wouldn’t get carded!

B: I really don’t know. The truth is that Kelly is naturally cool. I know that she has done things to impress me, but I don’t know what because she hides them so well.

When did you know it was love?

K: I loved him almost immediately. I can’t think of a time of knowing B and not loving him and not knowing I wanted to spend my life with him.

B: Shame on me, but it has been so long that I don’t remember the exact moment. I do recall a night that she held me tight for hours on end to break my fever. That is one of the most memorable moments of my life.

Are you guys more of “perfect twins” or “opposite attracts”?

K: In nearly everything, we are perfect twins. We always think the same thing at the same time, we both love trying new adventures, we are both silly and dorky. And where we aren’t perfect twins, we balance each other well.

B: We are perfect twins. We enjoy adventures and lazy days. We can rock climb one day and have a movie marathon the next. In any room we are most likely to gross out the public due to our affection for each other. We will dance when the only music playing is in our head.

Retell the coolest travel adventure that you have taken together.

K: We haven’t had a chance to do a lot of traveling together yet. I would say our honeymoon to Belize was pretty incredible, lots of relaxing and exploring and photography (me) and videography (B) and water fun…and we both had some challenges on the trip as well, and we saw how well we help each other during challenges.

B: Our honeymoon in Belize was the coolest. It was my first time traveling internationally and it was our first real break after a year of busyness. We rode bicycles, swam with sharks, read and went to bed every night before 8pm. We reveled in uninterrupted time together.

How do you share your creativity/gifts with the world?

K: I am starting a photography business, I have my blog (my poor neglected blog that I haven’t updated because this summer has been crazy).  I try to dress creatively and fun, and encouraging others to do the same. I have ideas for children’s books that I want to write, I just need to work on them more!

B: I don’t have the confidence in my creativity to share it. I usually keep my creations to myself, but I hope to share more as I create more.

What was your first disagreement about?

K: Probably smoking. I hate smoking, have always hated it, and B used to smoke sometimes.

B: Ditto

What do you do after a ‘fight’?

K: I usually get really quiet and disappear into my head for a while, but this isn’t very nice or mature of me, I am trying to work on this and work on communicating how I am feeling.

B: I talk too much. I like to get everything out in the open to put it behind us. I’m working on letting things rest more.

Have you faced any adversity? If so, and you care to share- what…

K: We’ve had some, my mom has had some health issues, we’ve both had job challenges of feeling like we aren’t doing what we are meant to, I have some health stuff of my own that frustrates me, and I know that no matter what, B is my rock, my cheerleader and will always be there to help me back up and help me deal with what I have to do.

B: It was hard for me to leave my friends and family in NH to move to NC. I had wanted to move for a long time, but it was hard to leave my support network. Kelly provided me with a new home and encouraged me to maintain strong relationships with my past. She made my move successful.

Describe your love journey in 3 words.

K: Always connected. True love.

B: True Love Wins

For the marrieds, how has life changed since you got hitched?

K: I feel even closer to him. We are still learning our married rhythm.

B: Our marriage has made me happier and more comfortable in my own life. It feels like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite beverage?

K: Mornings, coffee, light and sweet. Oh for the love of coffee. Otherwise, water.

B: OJ for me

If you want more info about or to sign up for the Love & A Photo Project go here: Love & A Photo: A Glance