Valentines 4Ever
A Love Story Written in Adventure, Captured on Film, and Built to Last
February 14, 1982. The day our lives changed forever.
It wasn’t supposed to be a big day—just a one-time performance as part of the chorus in a play called Pandora: Or If Transformation is Supposed to be So Much Fun, Why Am I Gritting My Teeth?
The show was a benefit for the World Hunger Project, and I was honored to be part of something meaningful. But little did I know, the real transformation that night wouldn’t just be on stage.
Because before the show even began, I stepped onto the balcony of La Paloma Theatre—and so did he.
A Balcony, A Camera, and a Glance That Changed Everything
I turned—and there he was.
Mark Schulze, setting up his camera. A man with purpose, focus, and quiet intensity. He was there to film the performance, capturing moments through his lens. But as I stood there, our eyes met—two strangers caught in a shared moment, held in time.
What a metaphor for life.
Before the curtain ever rose, before I sang a single note, my future had already arrived. Up on that balcony, the love of my life was waiting. And though we didn’t know it yet, that one glance would change everything.
The First Date That Changed Everything
After the show, Mark invited me to dinner at a charming vegetarian restaurant called The Prophet. Over delicious, wholesome food, we talked about life, dreams, and adventure. Something about him felt different—solid, true, like someone who understood the world in a way few people did.
As dinner ended, he asked if I’d like to go on a hike with him in the local mountains. I said yes, not knowing that this day would set the course for the rest of my life.
We spent the day together, exploring trails, climbing over boulders, breathing in the fresh mountain air. And then, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, we scrambled up onto a massive granite boulder overlooking the landscape, the sky fading into soft peach hues.
That’s when he asked me.
Would I join him on a journey down under—to New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji?
Of course, I said yes.
A Love Written in Motion
From that moment on, it was us.
I had spent years trying to carve out a career as a singer. Music had been my passion, my dream. But after meeting Mark, something shifted. He once told me that if I kept pursuing my singing career, there would come a point where I would have to choose between my career and my true love. And deep down, I knew he was right.
That night at La Paloma Theatre, I had sung my song—not just for the audience, but for destiny itself. I was the siren who had called my soulmate to me. And after that, my voice found a different stage.
Instead of chasing the spotlight, I chose a life of adventure, creativity, and partnership. I shifted my focus to video production in San Diego, where Mark and I built Crystal Pyramid Productions together. And it turned out to be deeply fulfilling—more than I ever could have imagined.
Life on the Road
In 1986, we set off on another grand adventure—this time across America, Canada, and Alaska. For nine months, we lived like a couple of kids, exploring national parks, meeting down-to-earth people, and soaking in the endless beauty of the road.
Each day was an adventure, whether we were hiking in the Trinity Alps, watching the Northern Lights dance over the Alaskan sky, or sharing stories with fellow travelers around a campfire. That journey strengthened the foundation of our love—it was us against the elements, embracing the unknown, together.
Through Every Season
Forty-three years later, our love is stronger than ever. We’ve weathered every storm, climbed every mountain, and laughed through every twist and turn. We’ve built a life of adventure, creativity, and boundless love.
But like any great love story, ours has its complexities. While Mark and I have built a life full of adventure and deep connection, not everyone has chosen to be part of our journey. Two of my sisters have distanced themselves, expressing that they feel 'uncomfortable' with Mark. At the same time, both of Mark’s parents have written us out of their wills because we never gave them grandchildren. These choices, made by people we once held close, have been painful. But in the end, love—true love—is about embracing those who celebrate your happiness. So, we continue forward, with gratitude for the life we've built and the people who uplift us.
Mark isn’t just my Valentine for a day. He’s my Valentine forever.
Every February 14th, we celebrate not just another year together but the moment fate brought us together on that balcony. The moment two people, surrounded by the hum of a theater, locked eyes and unknowingly began writing the greatest love story of all—our own.
A Love That Lasts
If you find a love like this, hold on tight. Because true love isn’t just for Valentine’s Day—it’s for a lifetime.
💗 Happy Valentine’s Day, Mark. You are, and always will be, my forever Valentine.
Patty