Delta Sigma Phi Date Party, Fall 1997.
How We Met
Wayne and Vivien met in college at UC Berkeley in 1995. Yes, you read that correctly – 1995. Wayne’s fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, and Vivien’s sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, were down the street from each other. Vivien kept following Wayne around and, somewhere, along the way, they started dating.
During these early years, they dated not once, not twice, but three times! They went to college “date” parties, had a memorable Fourth of July in Monterrey, and met up over Christmas in Hawaii with Vivien’s mom.
The seeds of life-long relationship had been planted.
Many Years of Friendship
After college, Wayne and Vivien went their separate ways. Wayne was in Colorado, San Diego, and San Francisco. Vivien was in Florida, Missouri and New York City with bouts of extended globetrotting in between. But through the years, they remained good friends, with visits between San Francisco and New York City, a trip to Washington, DC for Obama’s inauguration, and skiing in Tahoe.
In 2009, Vivien decided to leave NYC and make San Francisco her home. And in 2015, Wayne was back in SF from San Diego, for good. They would meet up for drinks, hikes, and birthday celebrations, just as friends.
But, perhaps, there was always something more, waiting to blossom.
President Obama’s inauguration, January 20, 2009.
Neon party, November 2018.
Getting Back Together
In the summer of 2018, Wayne and Vivien both found themselves single. They started hanging out more and more: baseball games, marine mammal releases, hiking on the coast. Then it seemed like being “just friends” wasn’t quite enough.
In the fall they started dating, attending fancy galas, backpacking in Tahoe, dressing up for costume parties. By the new year, they had decided that pretty much everything was just better together.
Finally, a romance was in bloom.
The Proposal
Wayne popped the question in April 7, 2019. He wanted the proposal to be a surprise, of course, and to take place during one of their favorite activities – hiking. Nearing the end of a hike on Pirate’s Cove Trail, a coastal out-and-back from Muir Beach, Wayne lured Vivien out to a rocky outcrop.
It was a beautiful Sunday, late afternoon, and, as they sat enjoying a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, Wayne began to fumble in his backpack. Eventually, he found the ring. And, after saying lots of truly lovely things about how much fun they had and how there could be nothing better than spending the rest of their lives together, he asked Vivien to marry him. She said yes. :)
Muir Beach, April 2019.
San Francisco: February 1996 and December 2018
Finally!
On the one hand, it’s been a whirlwind: a lot has happened in a little over a year – getting back together, moving in together, and getting engaged. On the other hand, this is a story that has been 24 years in the making. Happily, the little seeds of romance planted in 1995 have had the chance to reach their full potential.
Today, Wayne and Vivien couldn’t be more grateful that, despite so many twists and turns, their paths have finally reunited. They get to share their lives and grow old together. What they most look forward to is a life filled with laughter, outdoor adventures, vegetable gardens, and conversations about anything and everything.
About Wayne
Wayne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in Los Altos, California, which is, apparently, the best place in the world. He heads there often to spend time with his parents, Ming and Tailing, and his sister, Nova. Wayne graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He then spent many years working for Qualcomm on cell phone software. Today, Wayne is at Apple developing products that make your home smarter.
About Vivien
Vivien was born in Anaheim, California but grew up in Florida in the lovely seaside town of New Smyrna Beach. She spends her holidays with her Aunt Dr. Jane Farmer, who lives in Napa, and her cousins Jessica and David Farmer. Vivien graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English and Asian American Studies and has a master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is a communications director at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit that supports national park sites in the Bay Area.