October 24, 2009 was the first night we met. Of all the places for love to be found, it certainly wasn't at a medical school halloween party. Or was it? A mutual friend of ours mentioned to Estell that he had a good friend from the Bay that he would like to introduce her to.  Estell didn't think too much of it. Our mutual friend gave her Edwin's contact info, but she never reached out -- maybe it was because Edwin was from San Francisco and she was from Oakland. We're not sure why she didn't, but we know she was definitely not going to reach out to some random guy. Little did Estell know that she would have plenty of time to reach out to Edwin.  

Well, that fateful halloween party, on Sat. October 24th, 2009, was one to remember. Our mutual friend introduces us and we finally meet in person. Estell says "hi" and "bye" as quickly as she can, thinking nothing of the interaction. Halfway through the party and after wandering around talking to people, we found ourselves happy to talk to another Bay person (even if she was from Oakland and he from SF). We didn't have much in common with the others at the party - so it made it easy. In the middle of a dance floor, where they are playing loud, I mean, loud hip hop, we end up discussing politics and Bay Area life -- sound familiar?! We eventually danced, but no longer than a few minutes until Estell's girlfriends eventually sweep in and saved her from this mad man. The thing is, Estell's girlfriends initially thought Edwin was a "short Asian man grinding on me" on the dance floor. Another friend thought he as a Black man who was part of the Nation of Islam. We should highlight that Edwin's halloween costume was supposed to be a "professor" -- he was wearing a button-down shirt, a blue blazer, and a bowtie. And many of you know, this really wasn't a costume for Edwin because he wore that on a regular basis.

After a long night Estell decided to go home and get some sleep so she can study the next day. Seeing her headed towards the door, Edwin saw his chance! Being the caring person he is, Edwin offered to give Estell a ride home. She said, "no." She actually only lived a 3-minute walk from the party. Again if you know Edwin, you know that he is persistent. Finally conceding to his persistence, she agreed to his ride. What Edwin failed to mention was that he didn't have a car to drive her home. So he ran to our mutual friend and asked if he can borrow his keys. When the mutual friend asked, "for what?" Edwin replied, "for something really important!"  

Being Estell, a woman who waits for no one, she started walking home while Edwin was looking for a car to drive. By the time he started the car and began driving, she was halfway home. But he didn't know that and didn't believe that she only lived a block away -- Estell sees him slow creep up in the car as she walked, he insisted that she let him drive her home. Estell felt pity and entertained this silly 1-minute drive. A stop sign and half a block of driving, we were quickly in front of her home.

Edwin felt silly, but he was audacious enough to invite Estell to hang out with him and his best friend who was arriving from San Francisco the next day. Estell remembers hanging out that next day and Edwin's friend, Javierre, telling her that she was lucky to be dating such an amazing guy. But she didn’t even like Edwin, so she was trying to figure out how it had gone from driving for one minute to all of a sudden dating.  

Nonetheless Estell saw Edwin as a nice enough guy -- and hey, he was from the Bay Area too (bonus points, right?). So early that next week he offered to cook Estell dinner. Edwin worked so hard on this meal and was so proud of the pasta dish he created. He slaved over that stove boiling pasta noodles until they turned to mush, grilling chicken breast on his top-of-the-line George Foreman grill and adding his "super special" pasta sauce…Ready for it? Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Estell took one bite, spit out the food, and told him he was never allowed to cook for her again! It's been 7 years, he hasn't cooked since.

Thankfully, bad cooking doesn't stop Friendship & Love. After that first weekend, we were inseparable and spent every day of grad school together, studying together in either the medical school library, law library or cafes around Seattle. We explored the city of Seattle and state of Washington together over the next 4 years. We had our ups and down and break-ups. But the strength of our friendship prevailed. We never strayed too far from each other. And as the years passed it became harder and harder to stay away.

Our family and friends did not understand our relationship. But we understood each other loud and clear. Our ambition paralleled. Our spirits intertwined. Our love for community is unconditional. We grew as individuals and as partners. It has always been discussed between us that titles do not mean much, but actions are the true representation of our commitment to each other.  

This journey has been an amazing one. We both have grown to learn who we are and what our purpose is. It is much greater us, but we just want to be one part of the process to bring freedom, joy, and love to our people and each other.

Now, we are on a mission to serve, grow, and unite. This is just the beginning as we embark on this unity of revolutionary and unconditional Love.