Shannon & Lenny

Shannon’s Story

Shannon Hervey was born in Southern California and spent her childhood surrounded by a big family. She grew up playing softball, tap dancing, and generally marching to the beat of her own drum. In college, she changed her major seven times before landing on “English” and went on to earn her Master’s in Rhetoric and Composition and then her PhD in English Literature. She now teaches at Stanford and is working on a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling to pursue her “Act II” as a Marriage & Family Therapist. Shannon has hiked the Na-Pali Coast in Kauai twice and is currently working on her Purple Belt in Kajukenbo (mixed martial arts). She loves comic books, her pets, her dear friends, & her family. She frequently can’t believe her life is this good and is overwhelmed with gratitude to have found a person as epically wonderful as Lenny.

Lenny’s Story

Lenny Lentz was born and raised in Eureka, a sweet and small city in Northern California where the redwoods meet the ocean. They spent most of their childhood outside, climbing trees, tidepooling, and otherwise adventuring. In high school, they played trombone in the band and were on various sports teams including softball and volleyball. In college, they co-captained the rugby team for UC Santa Cruz. Archaeology has always been a passion for Lenny, and they’ve been on digs in Peru, Oaxaca, and various places in the US. They’re currently working on their Master’s in Archaeology, finishing up a thesis on historic cemeteries of San Francisco. They’re also working towards earning their black belt in Taekwondo. Lenny enjoys singing silly songs to Shannon and the pets. Daily joys include making Shannon laugh and exploring our curiosities together.

Our Relationship

We met in 2017 playing softball in Oakland on a team called, “Girlfriends.” Shannon thought Lenny was the kindest and most sincere person she’d ever met. We stayed softball friends until 2 years later when Shannon invited Lenny to an LGBTQ event in 2019 at the Cartoon Art Museum in SF. Not long after, Lenny asked Shannon to brunch at an Emeryville favorite, “Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe,” and we’ve been winning ever since.

First time Shannon knew: “In January of 2020 we went to Disneyland for my b-day with my best friends. Having Lenny there felt easy, right, and joyful. Lenny somehow made the happiest place on earth a bit happier.”

First time Lenny knew: “Hearing Shannon’s big belly laugh while we were sitting together in a beautiful garden, then going to a queer bar and serenading Shannon with Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ on the jukebox.”