The “Back to the Future” paradox

You know, in movies where people travel through time, how there’s always one little, seemingly inconsequential action that affects the way the world works out? Well, I think there might be something to that.

This is Carrie, and her husband Andrew. Carrie’s mom is Paula, and her grandma is Elaine. About 30 years ago, Paula and her mom got to brainstorming and decided to introduce a young bachelor named Steve (who worked with Elaine)to a sweet single mother named Marilyn (who knew Paula). They fell in love, and 56 days later, they became Steve and Marilyn Gray. Also known as my parents.

That wasn’t the last time Carrie’s family intervened, though. When I was in middle school, Carrie invited me to an improv theater class, where I fell in love with the stage and then followed her lead and applied to Jesuit to go through their theater program. My life changed again. Pretty impressive, right?

Over the weekend, I caught up with Carrie and Andrew and it was so fun to spend some time with them. They’re such a great couple, obviously a great match, and they’ve been married now for three years. They still get that twinkle in their eye when they look at each other, and they still act like newlyweds. Isn’t love wonderful?

What I absolutely adore is the feeling that although Carrie and I don’t see each other all that often, we have this connection and history that makes it effortless.

Thank you so much, Carrie and Andrew – for having such a great effect on my life, and also for being so much fun to photograph!