Our Story

Although only born a mere 17 days apart, it took almost 20 years for this predestined couple to become a reality.

Seneca Suzanne Goodman and Harry Theodore Stinson, III met the summer of eighth grade in Ithaca , NY. In those awkward times, both were too afraid to admit to their mutual crushes. Instead, they focused their pent-up desires on selecting the baggiest possible attire to hide their beating hearts (and other organs).

Ted is a third-generation Ithacan. Seneca was not physically born in Ithaca, but she is probably a 100th-generation Ithacan in spirit. Born in Pasedena, CA, and raised in Oxford, OH, she would spend every summer at the family vacation home in Mecklenburg, 17 miles outside of Ithaca. While her parents wrote (aka played golf and made jam) during the day, Seneca and her brother went to summer camp where they met many of the local kids. It was through that torrid pre-teen social web that Seneca and Ted finally met in middle school. The energy of their fates was so palpable that neither could maintain eye contact. The mere thought of engaging in conversation induced furious perspiration in all the parts that simultaneously frighten and entice people of that age. Although still forming, their minds were subconsciously aware of their connection and what maintaining it would require. Neither was up to the task, so they avoided each other except for awkward nods and embarrassed grunts of acknowledgement when absolutely necessary. But fear not, their time would come.

They went their separate ways after high school, both attending separate undergraduate institutions, both called BU. During holidays or vacations, they would occasionally have an encounter at local Ithaca townie gatherings, where a glimpse of their destiny would appear, then fade, like memorized answers to a sociology exam. In those moments, they thought about taking what had always been rightfully theirs, but knew that they needed to first suffer the purgatory of crazy girlfriends with eating disorders and misogynist boyfriends with steroid habits before they could truly appreciate their birthrights. So they would exchange a pleasantry and remain apart.

After graduation in 2009, Seneca and Ted found themselves at Nick Tucker’s house for an informal gathering in July. Randomly, they began talking about their plans after college, and they were surprised when it emerged that both planned to move to China to teach English. Ted would be moving to Dalian, in northern China, on August 26th, and Seneca would be moving to Shanghai on August 27th. At this point they exchanged contact information and agreed to visit each other. Nick Tucker would later earn a groomsmanship for his facilitation.

Ted went to Shanghai during China’s national independence holiday and stayed with Seneca for a three-day weekend. It was easy for them to reconnect since they had known each other for many years. Since Seneca didn’t speak or read Chinese, she dragged him to multiple restaurants where Ted happily ordered large amounts of delicious food. She had been dying to sample these wares, but could not order due to lack of pictures on the menu. Ted jokes that she fell in love with him for his ability to order in Mandarin. After returning home, Ted quickly quit his job in the frigid north to join Seneca in Shanghai, and graciously accepted a bed in Seneca's hotel room lodgings. After living together in a single room eating takout dumplings for three months, they knew that they could accomplish (and eat) anything together.

Ted left China in 2010, significantly rounder, to pursue a graduate degree in Physics at UC San Diego. After finishing her contract at Shanghai University one year later, Seneca moved to America's Finest City and got a real job. After two years, Ted realized he loved Seneca as more than just a sugar momma, and proposed in the parking lot of a Nissan dealership. They now live happily in a one bedroom apartment with Marilyn, who spends most of her feline existence sleeping, licking her stomach or glaring at one of her hoomans. Sadly Marilyn cannot make it to the wedding, but she sends her best. We hope you can join us to celebrate our journey!