Our Story

Chris and Erica met on December 22nd, 2016 when they both nervously walked into their first day at their internship with the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. They met at the front desk but they were never formally introduced. At the end of that first day, Chris didn’t even know Erica’s name. Fast forward a few months later to March 2017, Chris had a hunch that he should get closer to Erica, so that's what he did. He taught her how to shoot rubber bands from her finger, making sure to hold her hands in the process. From that day forward, when ever they were hanging out in a crowded break room the only thing Erica could see was Chris.  Erica's internship was ending and she was going back to her summer job. She knew that she had to see Chris again. Everyone but Chris at the museum knew… until one day Chris walked in on Erica and a coworker talking… about him. He didn’t hear anything but a loud “BAH!” from the coworker, but he had his suspicions. Later another coworker asked Chris to help Erica with a task outside the museum and so eloquently said “yeah Chris, go out with Erica!” At this point, he knew. On her last day Erica asked Chris to go get dinner with her as “friends.” But Chris left the message on read for 3 whole hours while he took a nap. To be fair, he knew that the decision he was about to change his life, and it did. On April 11th 2017 they went out on a “friend date” which they both knew was a real date, which was made all more evident at the end of dinner when they walked around Santana Row. They sat down at a bench under a huge tree and talked for a while. Eventually the the motive for dinner came up, and Chris said “I know you wanted me to hang out tonight. You like me.” Erica quickly responded with a coy “noooooooo.” And Chris believed her for a moment… until he put his arm around her without saying anything. She was befuddled. She had no idea what was going on until Chris said “I like you too.”

By May 5th they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. On June 18th they were “Facebook official”. 

A lot happened over the next 5 years. Love, life, tragedy, a pandemic, they had been through it all. Chris knew that even though things weren’t always easy, he and Erica loved each other enough to grow through all they had been through together. They are partners. And he was going to make sure it was for life. 

He bought a ring in January of 2022. But that was the easy part. He had to ask her father, Ed, for her hand. They went up to the Ramirez family home for her mother Rhonda’s birthday. Chris kept trying to find the right chance to talk to Ed in private. Every time he tried Ed was busy, fixing, building, or bulldozing. Eventually night fell and everyone sat inside talking. Chris and Ed struck up a conversation about Ed's 1960’s Chevy truck. They went out to look at the truck and talk cars. After a few minutes Chris worked up the courage to take out his phone and show Ed the picture of the ring. Ed asked “well, what are your plans with that?” Chris was dumbfounded. Surly he knew what Chris was planning. He just made Chris say it out loud (just like when Erica made Chris say “I love you” first). Chris told him that he planned to ask Erica to marry him, and that he loved her, her family, and wanted to start a family with her. After the whole conversation Ed made sure that Chris knew that he was happy for them, and wanted to make sure that they were always a team, they were going to be partners forever.  All the while Erica's beloved brother in law, Matt was speculating on where the two had gone, and Erica and little Sofie were peering through the windows trying to spy on the conversation. Everyone had their speculations but no one but Chris and Ed knew for sure. 

On March 12th, 2022, one month before the 5 year anniversary of their first date Chris and Erica went to the Sacramento Zoo. After a couple of hours with a ring in his pocket, Chris was looking for the perfect opportunity to propose to Erica. She has all but figured out what was going on. Nervous, Chris didn’t know what to do. He wanted more than anything to ask Erica to marry him, but was torn because he couldn’t ask his partner for advice. Eventually he once again worked up the courage. He asked a stranger to take a video of them in front of the red panda. He got down on one knee and asked Erica to marry him. He was so nervous he forgot to put the ring on Erica’s hand himself. 

Chris and Erica have always been and always will be partners. This means a fierce dedication to each other. Understanding, compromising, and always offering undying support. As they always say to each other “I am your number one cheerleader!” And their promise to each other every night before bed “I will be right here if you need me” has never been more true.