Introduction:

We have been together going on 30 years. Katherine, 75 years; and my intended, Stefanie, is also 75 years. Because we are seniors, we want to get married soon. Our income is very limited as we live on fixed incomes and in a low-income senior apartment complex in the desert, Nevada.

We are veteran grassroots activists who are part of the Women's, People of Color, and the Lesbian Feminist/Lesbian of Color Movement. And advocates of health rights, choosing alternative medicine and healing such as acupuncture, natural organics, vitamin and orthomolecular supplement to allopathic diagnostics.

We are proud to have been teachers of English, teaching reading, writing, and speaking with adults in the public library evening program and in students' homes. The classes were multicultural... many students were immigrants. All wonderful people. As we know, literacy is a severe problem in the U.S. We have been activists that have served our country by protesting injustice, as well as, by teaching people to communicate in English in a multilingual world.

Wishing on a Star: Would it be possible to have our wedding?

In The Beginning:

Stefanie, 1950

Stefanie is a poet/writer, (From the Nuthouse to an Outdoor Existence-2019), and Portrait photographer self-taught in years of backpacking through Europe and Asia Minor. Some time was spent as a Hippie in Amsterdam, Mahayana Buddhist in Heidelberg, a Waitress at Army's Patton Lounge. Health issues not unlike those of the Veteran/draft dodger from that war era developed. She experienced 3 1/2 years through the 70s abroad as various, and sometimes conflicting. Her upbringing was journalized pre-adolescence, blossoming there, outside her U.S. cultural predisposition. Educational dearth in the face of her time abroad led her to “3-day stays” in hospital with which she grappled to find “asylum" back home, choosing temporary housing and homeless posturing by summer 1995. Secondary education choices helped her, then, with 3-almost 4 AAs of Photo/Studio Arts degrees; graduating with honors in East Bay California 2017. A business she created, "ScreamingHeads" by Social Security liaison, to gift ‘Rage, Joy, And Humor’ with handmade Art and Photography was from their studio/garage in Oakland and Berkeley Telegraph Ave until 2019. Nevada living allows for attention on Photography, Poetry and this special loose end.

1959-60 Stef (2) and siblings, thus far, at family pool near Pittsburgh.

Katherine, 1949

Katherine, a retired Grass Roots Organizer, is still an Activist for a woman’s Right to choose. She was a teacher at NYC Library and Literacy Programs. Co-Founder of Asian Lesbians of the East Coast in NYC and The Mid-Hudson Valley Women's Directory for the NY Tri-County area (1977). Awardee of the MS and Ford Foundation for Grass Roots Organizing in NYC in 1985; Also, assisted in founding the Third World Women Archives in Lower East Side, NYC. Finally, Katherine produced shows on stage like "Women Laughing in Living Color" a night of comedy for, by, and about Women of Color. Now, Katherine holds an Art and Crafts Workshop for seniors (2025).

Honolulu, Hawaii circa 1954, Some of Katherine's family members.

1971-77 Stef backpacks European Continent to Ios, Greece, etc. on waitress wages during anti-/Vietnam Era at home.

1980-81. Katherine conducting a workshop on Asian Lesbians at a Lesbian conference in New Jersey.

When we met:

Oakland, CA 1996-A touch of Lavendar

The downstairs apartment- was our home of 24 years, Oakland, CA.

Feeding time for Sugar, Mojo, Buster, Martha, and Lucy. All "rescued" fur babies from the shelter. Fostering them, we, then, adopted four+ S. Moonbeam Susie Quesadilla, later! We've such great memories.

September 1999-Honolulu Trip "home" to meet Katherine's family.

1946-1948. Spencer Hall, singing a Hawaiian tune while Amoy, my mother, danced on the right. Soon after they married, Katherine was born. It is believed this photo was taken at 'Trader Vic's' in Chicago, Illinois, during a Hawaiian Revue.

circa 1965 Dorothea (Kat's mom) with flaming machetes on stage.

Our Art car, 'Olivera' in its purchased rendition. Thank you, sister Betsy and friend, Ute.

Volkswagen Bug Summit with sister and friend, Ute, employed at Oakland's BAWAR 1990s. Thank you! (with homemade Sushi spread).

"Sugar," Sushi Chef.

1999-2000, "ScreamingHeads," street vendors on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, handcrafted gifts of 'Rage, Joy, Humor'.

"Eyes@theBack," is one of our creations. Anyone can imagine the utility of such qualities as this for the day-to-day! Our Creations often presented a "witness" to the viewer/shopper in the experience of life when one was not otherwise present.

'Monocle Man,' -"Screamingheads" creations have been many; here, examples of our Art 1999-2018 Oakland.

Thank You.

Stefanie's 75th Birthday, at Momo's Sushi. We add up to 150 years!

Pippin August 13, 2017-August 12, 2025- We love him like no one's business. May he rest in peace.

Documentation:

Research shows the average cost of a wedding might be $28,000 to $30,000. We have looked at local chapels and combining a ceremony and reception in a package deal seems best for our present community of support.

1. Ceremony and Reception: $10,000

2. Wedding Events Attire, Limousine: $5000

3.Honeymoon Entertainment: $4,000

4. Honeymoon: – 7 to 10 days somewhere beautiful! $10,000.