Approximate Date of the Photo09/08/2013
Where in Balboa Park was this photo takenAlcazar Garden
Share your Love StoryTHE STORY OF OUR LOVE
By Emily Calabrese and Karen Oberg-Calabrese.
It was not by chance that we met. The universe had a very special plan for us. That plan began one hot April evening in 2008. It was that evening when we both felt an un-explicable desire to go to the gym. Un-explicable because neither of us ever worked out in evenings, yet there we found ourselves. Little did we know that our lives would be changed forever as we exchanged secret glances in the mirror. Conversation finally began with one cheesy line, “It’s really hot in here, right?” and from there seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours and parking had expired. Two long days later we met for our first date. On May 2, 2008 we went to a funky little hot spot in Normal Heights, Cantina Mayahuel, and discovered we both had a lot in common like long road trips to the desert and the coast, drinking fine wine, watching movies, and going out to dinner. We also realized we shared the same values such as generosity, kindness, compassion, fortitude and dependability and, one day, both hoping to start a loving family.
We dated for three weeks and, like any good lesbian couple, we packed up the U-Haul and moved in with each other. It was no surprise that our life and styles seamlessly blended together. We feel so fortunate to live in this beautiful city and to take advantage of all its wonder. One of our favorite things to do is take long walks through Balboa Park. We love the park so much that we were dead set on having our engagement pictures shot there. Life has never been so peaceful and so complete since that fateful day we met.
We were officially married shortly after it become legal in California on July 22nd, 2013 at the San Diego County Courthouse with our dear friends as our witnesses. We were overwhelmed with joy and quickly began to plan our dream wedding. We thought about what mattered to us, and what we wanted to remember forever. We knew we wanted a venue that reminded us of all things we love to do together, like taking long walks though the park. So on October 20, 2013 we celebrated our love by exchanging vows overlooking historic Balboa Park. It was an awesome day that we will cherish forever. To complete our fairy tale, we became pregnant a year later. It is with great joy and happiness that we welcomed our daughter, Gia Arden Calabrese, into the world on November 22, 2014. As our love grew like the flowers in the gardens, we will take great pride knowing that our child will blossom with all the learning and exploring Balboa Park has to offer.
Name of the PhotographerAaron Huniu
Photographer's websiteaaronhuniuphotography.com