On a long awaited trip to Ireland, Bryan and I were staying in a castle hotel in Kilkenny. We were enjoying some folk music in the hotel bar after dinner when Bryan suggested we explore the grounds more before the sun set. We were so enchanted by this stone and thatch cottage set back in the woods off the path, but even more interesting was a circle of stones set up in a henge-style. It also happened to be the summer Solstice, and it all felt very pagan and magical! I said we should take advantage of the situation and cast a spell. Bryan agreed and said it would be a love spell. We didn’t take any photos but I’ll remember it perfectly for the rest of my life.
After two months of dating on zoom and only two in-person dates, Bryan wanted to know what he had to do to see me more frequently. I explained that I like to spend my free time with my daughter, and that he could expect to see me two or three times a month - at least until he met Cambria. (7 years old) With this in mind, he was eager to make her acquaintance, so we began planning a rendezvous. On December 5th, 2020, Bryan picked us up and we drove to Silveyville Christmas tree farm in Dixon, where Cambria happily ran around seeking the perfect tree. At my apartment, Bryan set up the tree, I made hot chocolate, and Cambria covered the bottom half of the tree in ornaments. I think Bryan made a good impression, because a few weeks later, Cambria informed him that he could marry her mom if he wanted to - he had her permission.