When and how did you first meet Danny?
I met Danny ten years ago through Best Man Eric, in the snowy winter of 1999. He came to visit Northwestern, where Eric and I lived in the same dorm. We hit it off pretty quickly, and I knew that this was a guy I wanted to be friends with. If I remember correctly, Danny liked us so much, he never left, and ended up going to Northwestern. Right? I think that's how it went down.
What is a favorite memory that you have about Danny?
I have no single favorite memory of Danny, but I have really fond memories of being his roommate during our first year in Los Angeles, nearly five years ago. We moved down at the same time -- literally, we drove down together -- first living with future in-laws (don't ask), then our first Koreatown apartment, then the second one, walking distance from Manna. It was definitely helpful going through that transition with a friend, discovering the sights and sounds of L.A. and cursing the satanic 405 traffic. Danny definitely had my back.
What is something about Danny that people don't know, but you think they should?
Danny cried like a baby while watching 'Taegukgi.' You know that Korean movie about the Korean war? By the end of the movie, Danny was a mess. I'm not just talking misty-eyed, or a single, dramatic tear escaping his eye. I'm talking about a full-on tears-and-snot situation, followed by a trip to the restroom for extra paper towels. But you really can't blame him -- have you SEEN that movie? If any movie is designed to make a grown man cry, it's 'Taegukgi.'
What did you think when you first heard Danny was dating Chris?
About time. By the way, when did they truly start dating? I remember there was this long period of time where Danny refused to call it "dating." Danny and Chris just existed in this amorphous state of together-ness, despite exhibiting all the tell-tale signs of an actual dating relationship. But frankly, I was just glad to hear that the two were finally together.
When and how did you first meet Chris?
Due to our proximity, I was unable to meet Chris until well after she and Danny were going out. As it happens, all my close friends back home in Bay Area, as well as family members, were able to meet Chris before I did. So I got the advance scouting report, then the actual face-to-face. I think we all finally did a brunch thing in L.A. She lived up to the hype.
What did you think when they got engaged?
Again, about time. That seemed to be a foregone conclusion long before the deal was officially sealed, though it probably took a lot longer than we all wanted. There was that one time, many months before they got engaged, when Danny, Joanna and I happened to be hanging out on Jo's 30th birthday, and Chris texted "Happy Birthday" to her. Joanna, in an emboldened, champagne-fueled state -- and a crazy look in her eyes -- emphatically grabbed Danny's arm and told him, "MARRY HER." I think she caught him a little off-guard, but I'm glad he took her advice.
How lucky of a girl do you think Chris is?
Pretty darn lucky. Danny is an excellent man to have in your corner. I know that Danny has been intensively educating her on 1980s-era American popular culture, because such knowledge is essential to fully understand the mind, heart and soul of Danny. But I know she's up to the challenge. Chris, can you name all the Thundercats? Because that's love.
What are you looking forward to on September 19?
Finally seeing these two chained together in one place, as husband and wife. Danny was actually present at many moments in my own engagement with Joanna -- he drove down with me when I visited Jo's parents to ask their permission to marry her; he was there when we met up with friends in Evanston, right after I proposed to Joanna (and she said yes); and he was a groomsman at our wedding. So it'll be awesome to finally witness and take part in Chris and Danny's wedded bliss. I couldn't be happier.
