Jon

Fall 2008

I'm not really sure what I was up to here. I think I was having a good time working at sunKING and living with Brando. The world was my oyster. Although I was working so much I didn't really have time to eat oysters.

Winter 2009

In the winter of 2009 I felt as if my life was up in the air. I had a job that I loved that turned into a job that I didn't. I was living with my good friend Brando who turned into Brandon once his fiancée moved in (love you guys!) I think we all got to the point where enough was enough. They were eating all my food. I had to get out. I knew I needed a change, I just wasn't sure how big of one I was ready to undertake. Anyone that knows me knows how much I have dreamed of moving to New York, and a big part of me thought, now is the time.

I weighed my options and decided to stick around Pittsburgh a bit longer. I didn't know it would be the best decision I'd ever make.

Spring/Summer 2009

I had moved on from sunKING and started a new gig with Elliance. Things were good. I got my own place and I spent most of my time kicking it in Shadyside, just as Independent Jon used to do. During my last hours at sunKING I stopped by the desk of the new girl. I figured I'd impart some wisdom on her. She looked like she needed someone to show her the ropes. We chatted for a bit, she played it cool. As fate would have it, we ended up spending a good bit of time hanging out. We had some great coffee dates, brunch dates and phone dates. I thought they were dates, maybe she didn't. Not yet.

Shaari’s Visit

By July of 2009, our flirting continued. There may have been some reservations about some age difference, but I don't remember much of that. I remember having great times together, exploring the city, learning about good food and good wine, something about a cat, and diabetes. One of my favorite days with Kammie happened while Shaari was visiting.

Then

Things took off quite quickly. We were together all the time. So many great memories around Shadyside and Highland Park. All the morning coffees at Tazza D’oro, Saturday pastries at Food Glorious Food, the mediocre thai food from the Smiling Banana Leaf, and long walks around the reservoir. We took many trips to New York, Atlanta, and California. We had the best times, ate the best food, and spent time with the best people. We had the trip of a lifetime when we visited Kammie’s family in Malaysia. Never in my life had I thought I would have traveled so far from home. I couldn’t think of a better reason to have gone.

Things were going so well, I applied to grad school with the intention of sticking out the next few years in Pittsburgh. Little did we know how much our life was going to change.

California-bound

Out of the blue, I was contacted by Apple for a job opportunity out in the Bay Area. Just as Kammie and I were getting settled in Pittsburgh we were asked to move out West. Thankfully, Kammie is the most supportive person I have ever met. She insisted this was something we couldn’t pass up, and an adventure we had to take together.

I know the transition was difficult for her. She worked so hard traveling back and forth to Pittsburgh to make sure we didn’t miss a beat. Now we are finally settled out here in a beautiful city, with a beautiful apartment and all the opportunities in the world ahead of us. We can do anything.

My future wife

So much has happened in my life over the past few years that I don’t even know how to sum it all up. I just know that Kammie and her constant support has made everything possible. She is the smartest, most talented person I have ever met. If the next few years are anything like the last few I don’t know where we’ll end up, but with Kammie I know it can be anywhere.