Jamie Hector Wants That Black Belt

The actor Jamie Hector grew up in South Brooklyn, watching karate movies on Saturday mornings. He began studying martial arts as a teenager. “I wanted to throw a ninja star,” he said. “I wanted to fight like Bruce Lee.” Three decades later, at a dojo in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, he squatted on…

He Stood by Her Side, and Never Left

In 2014, Mr. Shirley took the distance out of their long-distance relationship by transferring to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., where Ms. Valdez had enrolled upon graduating from high school. The following year, in May 2015, doctors deemed Mia cancer-free. “Our prayers were answered,” Ms. Valdez said. “We were so thrilled for her.”…

From Russia With Mixed Feelings

One afternoon I left for the grocery store, forgot my notepad, and doubled back to get it. There I discovered the building manager in our apartment, going through the dresser drawers. Despite her initial startled expression, she snapped at me as she explained it was a routine apartment inspection. As I furiously described the incident…

A Text a Day Kept Other Suitors Away

In 2020, they relocated to Ms. Naini’s parents home in Dallas for a few months after the pandemic set in. There, they became even more confident in a future together. Ms. Naini’s grandmother was also living with her parents at the time and bonded with Mr. Elofson. “She taught him how to make Indian tea…