The Full Story
It was December 27th, 2024, Kenny was supposed to be in Hawaii, celebrating xmas, not having a few glasses of wine at Hotel Indigo’s bar in San Diego. But fate, armed with a Seahawks game and a lack of better options, had other plans. Meanwhile, Shannon wanted a quiet night in the hot tub and some well-earned sleep. Her friends, however, convinced her to go to the Indigo Bar with them. This is where the story begins.
The First Hello
That night, the two collided, at the Indigo Bar, when Shasta, Shannon's four legged friend, jumped into Kenny's lap. This started some casual conversation and a few laughs. They said goodnight in the wee hours, returning to their rooms with no idea that the universe had just nudged them into a new adventure.
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The next morning, Kenny’s mother chauffeured him to the airport, listening to him go on and on about meeting Shannon the previous night. Mid-flight, his phone buzzed — Shannon had texted! Kenny stared at the screen thinking how crazy is this!
They bantered, joked, and peeled back layers of each other’s stories. By the time Kenny landed in Seattle, Shannon had completely occupied his thoughts.
Taking Chances
A few days later, Kenny picked up the phone and called Shannon. Three hours later, they were still talking — about life, dogs, pizza, and everything in between. Somewhere between laughter and late-night confessions, the idea of Kenny flying back to San Diego popped up. It was wild. It was impulsive. It was perfect. So Kenny booked a flight. Not for business. Not for vacation. But to “go see about a girl.”
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Shannon picked him up at the airport, and their first official date unfolded like a rom-com montage: sunset on the beach, pizza from Pizza Port, beers in hand, and a walk back to her South Mission Beach place. Kenny spent the weekend soaking in the beach life with Shannon — and probably some sand — and flew back to Seattle starting to miss being with her.
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But this wasn’t a one-time thing. Kenny started flying back every other weekend, becoming a part-time San Diegan, a full-time romantic and hanging out with Shannon and Shasta.
Laguna Beach
Wanting to show Shannon how much she meant to him, Kenny planned a dreamy escape to Laguna Beach. They booked a cozy Airbnb steps from the ocean, and yes — Shasta came too, because every great love story needs a dog with impeccable beach vibes.
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Mornings were slow and sweet, with Shannon whipping up breakfast and Kenny pouring mimosas. Days were spent wandering the beach, sipping cocktails at local bars, watching funny movies, and laughing at absolutely nothing and everything.
Kenny flew back to Seattle again, but this time, something had shifted. He wasn’t just visiting Shannon anymore — he was imagining a life with her.
The Road Trip
By April, Kenny had made up his mind. Seattle was great, but he had to be with Shannon. He started renovating his house to rent out and made plans to move down to San Diego. But instead of a simple flight, they decided to turn the move into an epic road trip down the West Coast.
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Shannon flew up to Seattle, and Kenny picked her up from the airport and they began their journey down the west coast. Their first stop: Arch Cape, Oregon — charming, scenic, and the perfect kickoff. Then came Monterey… and the infamous Hotel 1110. Let’s just say it looked like Liberace and a circus had a baby. Kenny really wanted to get a new hotel room, but Shannon kept him calm and so they stayed. The Bloody Marys and breakfast were surprisingly divine in the morning, but Kenny still swears that hotel was haunted by bad taste.
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On May 19th, after 1,500 miles of laughter, snacks, 6 hour driving sessions, and questionable lodging, they arrived in South Mission Beach. Exhausted but elated, they collapsed into bed — two adventurers who had turned a chance meeting into a full-blown life together.
Cancun
After Kenny moved into a Crown Point apartment to be closer to Shannon, everyday life started to feel like a shared adventure. They were finally living together, and things just clicked — morning routines, spontaneous outings, and plenty of laughs.
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Before the move, they’d booked a trip to Cancun for June, something to look forward to. Kenny wanted it to be special, so he surprised Shannon with first-class tickets and a stay at the Fairmont Mayakoba, one of the most beautiful spots on the coast.
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They flew out on June 2nd and spent five unforgettable nights soaking up the sun, swimming in the ocean, indulging in late-night room service, sipping momsas by the beach, and even spotting fireflies for the first time. It was truly unforgettable for the both of them.
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Then, on one of their last nights, Kenny proposed to Shannon in their room. Shannon overwhelmingly said yes.
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They flew back to San Diego newly engaged, full of excitement, and ready to dive into everything that came next!