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CHRISTINE: Corinna and Matt Bellizzi will share the story of how Shannon Kathleen Collins came to meet Ken Vinson and how they became a couple…
CORINNA: I remember the first day I met Shannon. It was fall, 1997 at UCSC. As I walked up the steep hill to Social Sciences II, I noticed a girl in a flannel jacket with her hair pulled back, smoking a cigarette in long draws, a backpack over one shoulder. We shared a smoke together and realized we shared a major and would be in the first session of the same archaeology class in moments.
This was only the beginning. We shared study sessions, beers at the Poet & the Patriot, heartbreaks, triumphs, and all the while – we laughed. That’s the thing that always sticks when I think about her. Shannon knew what joy there could be in a simple moment – and that laughter always brightened a crummy day.
MATT: I remember how it was I came to encounter Ken. One morning twelve years ago, as I made my way to the coffee pot at work I happened to overhear a group of coworkers talking. Their conversation was about a game. Not just any game but, Dungeons and Dragons. My ears perked up and I convinced them to invite me into the group. Through that group, that still games to this day I met Ken. And even though at my first game, Ken’s character totally screwed my character over we would go on to become fast friends…. Ken and Shannon were such good friends to us, that when the time came for Corinna and I to marry we could think of none other than Ken to perform the ceremony to make us husband and wife.
CORINNA : Fast forward to 2004… It was the holiday season. Matt was hosting his annual tree decorating party. We’d only been dating for a couple of months – and I was nervous. I invited a few friends. Ones that I knew could make me laugh and would give life to the party. One of those friends was Shannon. And of course, Matt invited Ken.
MATT: Early on, I could tell that Ken was interested in Shannon.
CORINNA: And he wasn’t the only one. Let’s just say… Shannon WAS magnetic. A few days later I ran into Ken. The first words out of his mouth were about Shannon. He did not fit the norm of who she typically dated… so I flippantly tried to throw him off her scent. That evening – I let Shannon know Ken had asked about her.
MATT: Later that week I ran into Shannon and she asked me if I had Ken’s number. I stalled her, gave Ken a call and asked, “Hey Man, there’s this Shannon chick – she wants your number – can I give it to her?” and he replied “Why, yes… Yes you can… Please do!”
CORINNA: A few days later, Matt & I walk into the red room to get a drink after work. Ken & Shannon are sitting together at a table near the entrance.
MATT: Let’s just say I failed my perception check. I saw two friends sitting together having a drink, so I just walked up and joined them. About 15 minutes later, it dawns on me, and I exclaim “Holy crap, are you guys on a date?” Ken turns beet red and mutters “Why yes Matt, yes we are on a date.”
CORINNA: So our night, unexpectedly, turned into a double date. As the night progressed, the space between Ken and Shannon began to shrink until Shannon was nestled up to him. She turned to him and they kissed. It was the happiest I had seen her. She had found her partner, she found her home.
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