Teena and Dan: On a Rooftop

You know when you hear those epic kinds of love stories? The one’s where you’re like…yeah, I want that. That’s what I think of when I think of Teena and Dan. Their story is the one that spurred this whole project.  Theirs was the story I was capturing through a song.  Teena is my cousin…more like cousin-sister. We were the two families on my dad’s side that first immigrated to the United States. My uncle ended up in the Bay area and our family ended up in Chicago. 

We saw each other every so often in both the Bay and Chicago. We also had these amazing opportunities to see each other when we would visit India…with those big time family reunions. My dad has 7 brothers and sisters.

I remember when I was living in Washington D.C. years ago when I first started teaching and I planned to visit Teena up in the Bronx. She was studying there and she had mentioned she had started dating this guy, Dan. As soon as meeting both of them together, it was just comfortable. I love that feeling, comfort with two people who you know just make sense with each other.

I learned about the night when they started dating…they were on a rooftop and they shared a red hooded sweatshirt and somehow he got the courage to hold her hand.

And the rest is history! Since then, they have lived in D.C., Swaziland, and currently, they are in Mozambique doing pretty remarkable work in the global health arena. 

And through the many challenges life throws at us, they have lived with passion and heart, consistently. They have two beautiful children who reflect them on so many levels. Teena has always taught me about what it means to live life to its fullest, never forgetting just how precious this all is.  She’s a compassionate soul and an incredible survivor.

So it’s Teena and Dan’s anniversary this week! Their wedding still evokes strong memories for me. Jewish and Indian traditions, Monterrey sunshine, bhangra, Spanish love poems, beaches…sigh.

Here’s my love song below for them. Imagine the red sweatshirt, but with a magical twist.

Love you both.

On a Rooftop:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSLuChM_fUA