Love in the Time of COVID
07-29-2020

As the world shut down and collectively took steps separate and socially distance, one would not expect love of all things to flourish during the time of COVID. However, love brought two souls together at Maravilla Scottsdale, where residents Judi B. and Larry E. met and began their story.

It was a cold February night when Judi met Larry. Having dinner with a friend at Maravilla’s onsite restaurant, she spotted a handsome man sitting alone at the bar. Her interest was noted by her friend, who decided to open the window of opportunity and invited Larry to join the two for dinner. The connection between the two palpable and one dinner turned into a series of many with smiles and conversation shared over a delicious meal or glass of wine at the bar. In Judi's words, "We had a connection, but we certainly had no idea how strong it would grow.”

Their mutual attraction ran deep. Judi remarked, "We had both said that we would never get married again and that we could never live together since we are so different."

Then the world came to a halt with the global pandemic - and Judi and Larry found themselves serendipitously “stuck” together in quarantine. Sheltering in place together was a surprising, yet unexpected, experience. In fact, it gave the couple time to see that despite their different personalities, they could indeed live together. Perhaps even build a life together as husband and wife.

In a spur of the moment decision, Judi and Larry decided to tie the knot. Their original plans of driving off to Vegas to elope would not do, as everything was closed. So, Larry phoned a friend, who also happened to be a minister, who agreed to marry the two. The couple made a pact to tell no one, not even family or close friends. Throwing everything to the wind, they decided to "just do it". The couple dressed to the nines with Judi glowing in pink dress adorned with a feather boa and Larry looking sharp in a crisp shirt and white dress pants. With smiles, they said their vows in the presence of God, their minister and one another.

After their elopement ceremony, the pair came home to Maravilla to announce the exciting news via Zoom call to their friends and family. Not shocked, the ebullient group of family and friends celebrated virtually the small ray of joy that had pierced the gloom of the pandemic. When asked how married life is, Judi remarks on how she and Larry are their setting their sights on the future as newlyweds and working on combining their two households. "We still marvel at how all of this came together- we are happy!"