Krista and Barrie met at Washington Elementary School in Mankato, Minnesota. They were six years old and were in Mrs. Anderson's first grade class together.

After being in the same second grade class they weren’t lucky enough to be in many other classes together. Both attended Franklin Junior High School and found that to be a rather horrific experience that they didn’t have words to describe until they read “Lord of the Flies” in 10th grade. They went to Mankato East High School together and though their paths sometimes crossed, they weren’t ready for each other yet.

After graduating high school together in 1981, they went on to have experiences that shaped them into the people they are today. They were each fortunate to have the deeply meaningful gift of being parents. And both went through life experiences that were sometimes painful or exhausting, and many times filled with joy and energy. Lots of life lived by the both of them and their families over 4 decades.

Then, in the Spring of 2021, the planning committee for the Mankato East 40-year class reunion asked for help finding “lost” class members. Barrie found several classmates and directed them to the reunion committee’s Facebook page. Krista was one of those “lost, now found” classmates.

Krista couldn't attend the reunion, but was grateful for the information and sent Barrie a thank you message. They texted back and forth a bit, and when she visited her family in Minnesota she asked if they could meet for dinner.

On October 11, 2021, they got together in person at Nolabelle Kitchen & Bar in Mankato. It wasn't supposed to be a "date." Neither knew the other’s relationship status. But it soon became apparent that there was a spark. Both of them wanted to change the way they could fall in love—and stay in love—with a partner.

They started their love affair with Krista in California and Barrie in Minnesota. Two weeks after having dinner together in Mankato, Barrie flew to California to spend a week visiting Krista. They spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together in Minnesota. Barrie flew again to California, where they stayed in Santa Cruz and did some boogie boarding, thereby proving to Barrie that not every body of water freezes in January. For months, Krista took lots of flights on Delta and Sun Country. They spent several weeks at a time together in Barrie’s home in St. Peter, Minnesota. In late August, 2022, all of Barrie’s worldly goods (about 1,000 books) were shipped out to Moraga, California. And Barrie and Krista followed by taking an Amtrak train from St. Paul to Chicago and then on to Jack London Square in Oakland. Since then, they’ve been living together in Moraga and deepening their connection.

In March, 2024, while standing in the Ganges in Rishikesh, India, Barrie proposed, and Krista accepted.

Their love is strong in part because they bring their whole selves to each other, being honest and open, even when it’s hard. And that's done with a gentleness and kindness that provides a foundation of safety, trust and love.

Join them as they celebrate their love and commitment to one another.

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