JOCELYN JOHNSON AND BILLY HUNT
Together 19 years
These two are the essence of cool— creative jobs, a hip kid, and an enviable admiration for one another. Billy proposed to Jocelyn on a beach in Mexico after a year of traveling around the world together—when they visited places like Tokyo, Cuzco, Rajasthan, and Rio—and they’ve been going on adventures ever since. In fact, traveling is their favorite thing to do together. Said Billy, “We have seen so much. It’s hard to believe.”
Ages: Jocelyn is 41; Billy is 39.
Occupations: Jocelyn is an art teacher/novelist in the making; Billy is a
photographer and filmmaker.
Married: June 2002
How did you meet? Dollar pitchers at a dive bar in Harrisonburg in college.
Do you have children? A 6-and-a-half-year-old son, William.
What’s your song? Something by Sade.
What’s something you like to do together? Lately Billy likes to Gchat with Jocelyn while photographing shows. “Surprisingly fun,” he said.
What’s been your biggest relationship challenge? Keeping our household and creative endeavors afloat simultaneously.
What’s your morning routine? Deny the alarm.
Who does the cooking? The cleaning? Clean?
What’s the strangest thing you have in common? Our mutual hatred of all things mayonnaise. We not only think it disgusting, but we think anyone who eats it is disgusting too.
What was your first date? Harrisonburg, Indian-American Restaurant. It was awesome. We felt so grown up.
What do you dream about doing together? Continuing to grow old and curmudgeonly together.
When did you get the “this is the one” feeling? Jocelyn: Sometime between dollar-pitchers night and hiking to Machu Picchu; Billy: For me there was no a-ha moment. It was a frog in hot water thing. We sort of grew up together.
What’s something you admire in your partner? Jocelyn: His endless ability to create interesting things; Bily: A shitton of stuff. She’s smart, hardworking, loyal, and highly tolerant of my crazy antics. “Honey, I am going to be a DJ.” “O.K., make sure to wear a jacket.” Probably my favorite thing is that she is so hot, but doesn’t know it.
What’s a habit of your partner’s you could do without? Jocelyn: Leaving dirty clothes near, but not quite in, the laundry basket; Billy: She sets the cap on bottles, and does not close them. I go to grab them, and then, boom, water/aspirin/milk everywhere!
MARIA AND BRYAN REDIESKE
Together 3 years
It didn’t take Bryan long to track Maria down after meeting her at a mutual friend’s Halloween party in 2009 (he was dressed as an army lieutenant and she was dressed as Strawberry Shortcake). Unfortunately, their first date, to La Cocina Del Sol, was a disaster. As Bryan tells it, “Maria had snot dripping out her nose and hated the place I took her.” Maria says, “I was recovering from the flu and reluctantly went out to dinner with him. He took me to a restaurant where we were the only customers.” They gave it a second chance, and the rest is history.
Ages: Maria is 27; Bryan is 30
Occupations: Maria is a fourth grade teacher in Nelson County; Bryan is a leasing manager at Management Services Corporation
Married: December 31, 2011
Do you have children? A 9-month-old, Lyla Grace.
What’s your song? Any Bruno Mars song—he makes us want to dance together!
What’s been your biggest relationship challenge? Budgeting. Managing a joint account is hard! We are paying off student loans, weekly babysitter costs, and paying all the bills while saving for a down payment on a home.
Who does the cooking? The cleaning? Maria does the cooking, Bryan does the dishes. That’s a rule! If Bryan cooks something (like “Spaghetti Surprise!”), Maria will do the dishes. We share other cleaning responsibilities.
Who would win in a game of Scrabble? Poker? “Bryan for sure,” says Bryan who, Maria reveals, still writes “cue tips” and “ice creame” on the grocery list. But, she concedes, “He probably would win poker. I have a terrible poker face!”
What’s something you like to do, but your partner doesn’t? Bryan: Beer Pong; Maria: Wine tasting.
When did you get the “this is the one” feeling? Bryan: The first time I laid eyes on her; Maria: While house sitting for a family friend. Playing house with Bryan just felt so right and I knew we would some day have a home of our own together.
What’s a habit of your partner’s you could do without? Bryan: Her shopping habits; Maria: Leaving every light and T.V. in the house on.
What’s a simple thing your partner does for you that means so much? Bryan: She packs my lunch for me—with some extra of my favorite snacks; Maria: He waits for me while I put the baby to bed before he eats dinner. I usually have dinner ready and keep it warm while I nurse her and put her to bed. He could eat it while it’s hot before I come back but he always waits for me so we can eat together.
