Married

Our story

Carol and Joe

We never met before January of 2016, but we lived parallel lives.  We both were the youngest children of large families (Joe has four siblings, Carol has seven). We both went to graduate school in our twenties and then started our careers (Carol in teaching, Joe in the law). We both got married in our twenties and we both were separated after twenty years of marriage. Surprisingly, our divorces were final within a few weeks of each other. After divorce, we were both eager to start new lives, having a much better idea of what we wanted than when we were in our twenties.  Yet trying to meet people at this stage of life can be a challenge. So we both took a risk--putting ourselves on online dating sites--and happily, found true love.

Several years ago, before Carol’s long separation, she started a new career in psychotherapy. She had a year under her belt as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist when she saw Joe’s online dating profile.  Although Joe has a successful career in the law, Joe’s profile talked about wanting to be able to help people on a deeper and more personal level than he could in the law. So Joe had enrolled in Pacifica Graduate Institute’s counseling psychology program in order to train as a Marriage and Family Therapist as well.  Our first conversations largely revolved around psychological theories and orientations.

When we met, we knew we shared many values.  Being the youngest children from large families, we shared a vision of family connections and relationships being fundamental to people’s well-being, including our own. Joe met Carol’s college-age daughter, Erin, and we met some of each other’s siblings, nieces and nephews.  It felt like a connection that went beyond just us as a couple.  

And now we are here to celebrate our love for each other with those we love. Thank you for being a part of our celebration and our lives.