Read my first post with Christi & Shaun here. I’ll be writing about Christi and Shaun for my book, so I’ve shared what I can.
When I think of the kind of romantic relationship I’d want for myself, I think of Christi and Shaun’s marriage—a love rooted in friendship.
It’s a Sunday morning, a few weeks ago, and we’re having breakfast at Christi and Shaun’s new house. Well, I guess it's new to me; the two have lived there for about a year.
Christi has prepared a delicious table, featuring an array of cream cheeses, vegetables and bagels. We’re joined by their two dogs, Butter & Brisket, who sit at our feet.
Our conversation touches on a variety of topics. “The happiest I’ve seen Shaun this whole year was when he got an invitation in the mail for his annual golf tournament,” says Christi.
Shaun and his three close friends host a yearly match.
Over the years, Christi has felt like an honest mentor and a point of comfort for me. As my first manager at my first full-time job out of university, she’s always been open about her experiences—I was there to witness the start of her relationship with Shaun when Christi briefed me in September 2020 during a lunch break.
They met on August 30th and moved in together on September 4th of the same year.
“How do you think of love with Shaun?” I once asked Christi.
“How immediately comfortable I felt. He made me feel really accepted. I didn’t feel like I needed to change anything about myself or who I was. All of that was accepted at face value,” she said as her eyes filled with tears.
When Christi turned 32 in June, 2020, she cemented it as the year of balance. “I thought, ‘I don’t care if I’m going to meet someone.’ I hated when people would tell me I’d find someone when I least expected,” she said.
Clearly, it worked.
At our breakfast, over five years later, it’s understood that we’ve both learned to embrace balance. “I feel much calmer now,” I say. “One of my lowest points was when I was dog-sitting Butter and Brisket in May 2022, and the police rang the doorbell in the middle of the night.”
They were looking for someone who had once lived in the apartment, not me and the dogs.
It’s been special to have Christi witness my 20s. From my first day of work in 2019 to my office opening this past September. Who would have thought a manager could become such a great friend?
As food lovers, Christi and Shaun hope to visit San Sebastian later this year. I went last year before a wedding in Paris and need to send them a list of recommendations.
Before I leave, Christi shares a recipe for the Korean Marinated Eggs she made for breakfast. Here is the recipe. I tried it for dinner this week, and my family loved it.
“The way you make an omelet reveals your character.”
―Anthony Bourdain
I’ve started a new video series, interviewing some of my friends. My first guest was a matchmaker. Here is a clip from our chat.
Talk soon,
Miriam