Captivating Couples 2013
Long Island, NY
Tracy, 41, nurse
Kelly, 25, neurosurgery physician assistant
Before they began dating, Tracy liked to tease Kelly about the lunches she brought in to their workplace cafeteria. Tracy would pick on my food because I would always have weird things, like tofu or mushrooms. I made her Brussels sprouts one day and probably excited her, jokes Kelly. It turns out the way to the heart is indeed through the stomach. We have a 16 year age difference, but somehow are always on the same page, Kelly explains. We do not argue over nonsense; we talk kindly. We always tell each other how we feel. We show love, feel love, and give love. Her two children have become our two children and we have become a family. According to Kelly, quality time together is the medicine for a healthy relationship. Emphasis on quality. Figure out what makes your partner smile and make it happen as much as possible. Tracy says that Kelly has a way of being her grounding force when she gets anxious. While a walk down the aisle is still a ways off, we know what kind of dishes we are registering for.
They hail from all over the nation, falling head over heels for one another in many different ways. But one thing ties all of these adorable twosomes together—love.
SHANEL & TARA
West Philly and Morristown, PA
Shanel, 31, healthcare recruiter
Tara, 40, health services coordinator, owner of Freedom G Photography
Shanel and Tara met two years ago while Tara was photographing the Liberty City Drag Kings, Phillys only queer drag and burlesque performance troupe. Shanel was performing. Together since March 2012, they share a love of traveling, photography, boxing, MMA and being active and going to the gym. In the next few years they hope to travel the world together. Being an active part of their local LGBT community and volunteerism is also a unifying thread in their relationship. We have started a network for LGBT community of affiliates, artists and performers to collaborate and contribute into our city, says Tara. While they can talk about anything-even the struggle to find inner peace with their pasts and patterns that existed before their relationship-they are still taking it slow. I am a little bit gun-shy about marriage, but I am grateful for the advances the government is making about recognizing same-sex marriage, Tara admits. We fantasize and make jokes, like Shanels refusal to have line dances at her wedding!
