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June 19, 2020This post was originally published on this site
Dustin Schneider made quite an impression with Lindsay Hirsch in December 2018, when he complimented a photo of Ms. Hirsch dressed as Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” that was posted on the dating app, the League.
“I was super excited,” said Ms. Hirsch, now 31, who was then living with her mother, Marilyn Kahn in Las Vegas, but was just days from moving to San Francisco, where Mr. Schneider, 37, happened to live.
“Dustin was the first person I matched with and the only person I was talking to,” she said. “There was a warmth in his voice that made me feel very, very special.”
Ms. Hirsch, who owns Get Into the Limelight, a company in San Francisco that sells self-tanning products, shared a first phone call with Mr. Schneider the following day, during which she learned that he graduated from the University of Michigan, and received a master’s degree in organizational psychology from N.Y.U.
Ms. Hirsch, who is fluent in Chinese, has two bachelor’s degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, one in Chinese and the other in international business and marketing.
She mentioned in their conversation that she was an only child who was born and raised in Chicago, and that she was still reeling from the unexpected death of her father, Gordon Hirsch, six years earlier, in November 2012, at 53 years old.
As a result, Ms. Hirsch has vowed to “live every day to the fullest,” and spent the next four years traveling around the world. She visited India and made numerous stops throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“I took a lot of time off from dating,” she told Mr. Schneider, who was hanging on her every word.
“What I was able to glean from her profile and our first phone call was that obviously she was beautiful and incredibly intelligent,” Mr. Schneider said. “She also had a remarkable drive and ambition that really came shining through given her multiple interests, her zest for travel and life in general.”
Just before their first phone call ended, Ms. Hirsch left Mr. Schneider with something to think about: her.
“If you’re my person, let’s do it,” she said to him about starting a relationship.
Mr. Schneider, who was born and raised in Dix Hills, N.Y., and works as a member of Facebook’s leadership development group in San Francisco, had been reeling from a recent divorce, which put him in a similar why-wait-until-tomorrow mind-set when it came to romance.
“I thought to myself, ‘If I ever meet the right girl, I’m just going to go for it.’”
Every night for the next two weeks, Ms. Hirsch and Mr. Schneider spoke via FaceTime, strengthening their bond with each and every on-screen appearance, until Ms. Hirsch moved to San Francisco in January 2019.
On that same day, Ms. Hirsch made her way to San Francisco’s Alamo Park, where she and Mr. Schneider made plans to meet in person for the first time.
Once there, Ms. Hirsch, thinking she had arrived before Mr. Schneider, decided to climb up a small hill to find a better vantage point “for checking him out, thoroughly,” as she jokingly put it.
Halfway up the hill, Ms. Hirsch noticed Mr. Schneider climbing up the other side of it. He too had been trying to position himself for a thorough first look.
When their eyes locked, Mr. Schneider began walking toward Ms. Hirsch, all the while asking himself a series of questions on how best to proceed. “I start wondering to myself: ‘What should I do? What should we do? Should we kiss right away? Then I thought, this feels a little forward, and it’s not my style.’”
He was still thinking when she charged in his direction and tackled him.
They toppled to the ground, and began kissing.
“Given our pasts, it felt right and made a lot of sense,” Mr. Schneider said. “I think we were both at a point in our lives where we were no longer taking anything for granted.”
“We knew who we were, and what we wanted,” he added, “and considering my divorce, and her dad’s passing, well, it sort of created this perfect storm in terms of us being ready for a relationship together.”
A whirlwind relationship ensued. Within a week, they were swapping the “L” word; within three months they had met each other’s families. “My favorite photograph is the one where my mom and Lindsay are hugging each other,” Mr. Schneider said.
In December 2019, a month after she moved into his apartment, they were engaged at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. (Ms. Hirsch, an avid Disney fan, said that by the time she graduated from high school, she had been to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., more than 30 times.) The search was over for the true-love-seeking Mr. Schneider and Ms. Hirsch, who listed several of the things they have in common as “a love of family, a love of travel, and the fact that we are both Jewish.”
“I spent so much time traveling and searching for a place that felt like home,” Ms. Hirsch said. “Then I met Dustin, and it suddenly dawned on me that home is not necessarily a place, sometimes it’s a person.”
“He is the most outgoing, loving guy,” she said, “someone who always makes everyone in the room feel welcomed. He went through his divorce and yet here he was, wanting to marry me and jumping in feet first.”
The couple planned to marry May 23, 2020 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla., where they would greet about 60 guests.
But when the coronavirus surfaced, they canceled everything but the wedding date, and began quarantining together in their 700-square-foot apartment in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.
“That we were able to live in this environment, together, with no escape possible, only solidified the love we already had for one another,” Mr. Schneider said. “It made us feel even more blessed to have found each other.”
Rather than sulk about having to find a new wedding venue, Ms. Hirsch put her energy into trying to have their rescheduled ceremony held in one of the Bay areas professional sports venues.
Frequently Asked Questions and Advice
Updated June 16, 2020
I’ve heard about a treatment called dexamethasone. Does it work?
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
What is pandemic paid leave?
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
Does asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 happen?
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface?
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
How does blood type influence coronavirus?
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.?
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Will protests set off a second viral wave of coronavirus?
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
My state is reopening. Is it safe to go out?
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
How can I protect myself while flying?
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
How do I take my temperature?
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
Should I wear a mask?
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
What should I do if I feel sick?
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
How do I get tested?
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
“Since we are both big sports fans, and those places were not being used due to the virus, I thought, ‘Why not give it a shot?’” Ms. Hirsch said. “I called every team’s public relations staff, every sports radio and TV show I could think of, and I finally got lucky with the Chase Center.”
She was referring to the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors National Basketball Association team. There were no guests, only a witness, Jordan Poole, a 2019 first-round draft pick of the Warriors who accepted the organization’s invitation to attend the wedding and assist the couple.
There was also an officiant, Rebeca Delgadillo, a Universal Life minister, who stood before the couple and behind a mask.
“I remind them today that they are performing an act of complete faith in each other,” said Ms. Delgadillo, as the couple’s parents, including Willa and Stanley Schneider, and Mr. Schneider’s older sister, Alexis Reinberg, watched from their homes via Zoom.
“In a world where faith often falls short of expectation,” Ms. Delgadill said, “it is a tribute to these two who now join hands and hearts in perfect faith, especially in these uncertain times of Covid.”
The bride, who took her husband’s name, then began exchanging wedding vows with him. “Dustin, you are a million hopes and a million dreams of a little girl come true,” is how the bride, dabbing at tears the entire ceremony, began. “You are a man of brilliance, kindness and compassion, a man of integrity and a man of your word.”
Then it was the groom’s turn.
“Lindsay, neither of us expected that we would be doing things in this way, but it’s fitting,” he said. “From the beginning, this has always been about us, and the entire situation has brought into sharp focus that while life might not always be easy and things will go wrong, we win by going through it side by side.”
On This Day
When May 23, 2020
Where The Chase Center, San Francisco
What They Wore The bride wore a wedding dress on loan from Kinsley James, a bridal shop. The groom donned a black tuxedo by Calvin Klein and an engraved Movado watch that had belonged to the bride’s father. As a gift to the couple, the Warriors organization, which did not charge the couple for use of the space, gave each a team jersey with their first name on the back.
On the House The wedding flowers were donated by a local florist, the Rae & Rose Floral Company.
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