Love Stories: Puppy Love

Tiffany's story:

It was love at first ...
A week before Christmas, my boyfriend, Vu, and I wanted to get a dog as a gift for each other. I was eating at a restaurant for lunch one day and I saw a flyer for a pet store. It advertised healthy puppies and it was only a couple doors down! They were a small family owned pet shop that supported breeders (and not puppy mills) and guaranteed the health of the pup for the first year. It was perfect and just what we were looking for. So, I scarfed down my ramen, hurried over to the store and suddenly found myself in a room full of the cutest Malteses and Yorkies. I zoned in only on one. It just calmly sat there and stared at me with the most adorable beady little eyes. I felt an immediate connection.

I had to make an appointment to view the puppy, so Vu and I went back the next day. When the pet store owner let the puppy out, it was so excited! It must’ve been a little scared too because it ran and hid under Vu’s leg. Vu became instantly attached. While we played with the puppy, I kept asking, “Is this the one?!?” Vu wasn’t 100% sure and said that we shouldn’t buy on impulse and that we should think it over and sleep on it. The pet owner put the puppy back in her crate and as we said our goodbyes, she stared sadly at us and stuck out her itty bitty tongue. That's when we knew we HAD to have her. She was too precious.

As we signed the papers, we thought about the name. We planned on getting a male puppy and naming him Bam Bam, but this puppy was a female. She was so tiny and so cute and got along with us so well that it didn’t matter to us anymore though. Bam Bam wouldn't work for a female pup, and thus, Pebbles (Pebbles Chu-Bui to be exact) was born. 

Ever since that day, Pebbles has been our #1 in our lives. We gush about her like she’s a newborn baby and treat her more like a daughter than a dog. A lot of people say pets turn out to be like their owners… Well, Pebbles’ face is the spitting image of her daddy and her whine sounds just like her mommy. And to this day, that little tongue of hers continues to stick out and reminds of us of the first time we fell in love.

Vu’s story:

“You have to be picky. DO NOT buy the first dog you fall in love with. Many owners make the mistake of buying the first puppy that wins them over.” Last words of a man to his girlfriend, who walked into a pet store and fell in love with the first puppy he laid eyes on. She won me over the moment our beady little eyes met. She won me over before I walked into that store. She won me over before I had ever known of her existence. 

They say it’s intuition and a gut feeling that decides what puppy you choose; the way they look at you, the way they play, the pawing at the window as you make your rounds through the store. My first run-in with Pebbles was that of something from a movie. It was love at first paw. Nothing anyone could have told me would have changed my mind about bringing that adorable little face home. Within 30 minutes, Tiffany and I were signing papers for our new puppy, Pebbles.

I have loved her beyond any limits imaginable and it has only grown since then. Anyone will tell you that Tiffany and I treat Pebbles like she is our child. FACT, she is our baby and we love her to death. Things will never be the same again, and that is because this 5 ½ pound runt has made me love like never before. I look back on that first day that I saw Pebbles and think about whether or not I chose her, or if she chose me. Pebbles-Chu-Bui, you are the best!

http://pebblesthedog.tumblr.com/

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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Love Stories: A Two Week Cruise

I took a two week cruise that changed my life. My mom, sister, and I befriended all of the crew members we met, but one in particular caught our attention. I, alone, caught his. Pavle was a buffet steward during the day and wine steward during dinner at night. He was from Macedonia (a country surrounded by Greece, Albania, Serbia) and I was a sucker for his accent and Mediterranean skin.

In the first week, I was oblivious to the attention Pavle gave me. My mom and sister constantly told me that he was smitten with me and couldn't keep his eyes off of me. I guess I just hadn't noticed it. I shrugged it off, but I became a little more aware of what they were talking about.

In the second week, on May 18th, 2009, my life changed. My mom, sister and I were sitting at a table after Pavle's wine tasting seminar and I motioned for him to come over. As we we're all talking, I noticed his hand lightly brush my shoulder... and then lightly brush my back... It hit me like a ton of bricks and from that moment on, everything changed. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat. All I did was think about him, and all I wanted to do was see him. I had never felt that way. I planned my daily itinerary around his work hours so we could see each other. The crew wasn't supposed to "mingle" with passengers, but he spent as much time as he could at our table, despite getting spoken to by his superiors. There was a magnetic force between us that was apparent to everyone. He had flowers sent to our room, chocolate covered strawberries and wine...

On the last day of the cruise, we vowed to keep in touch. There was a glimmer of hope as the ship would dock in San Francisco, about half an hour from my home, every 10 days and I could pick him up for lunch or take him sightseeing. When I got home, I emailed Pavle immediately and I didn't hear from him for three days. I cried for hours, I missed him so much. I continued to email him, but no response. The first "10th day" came so I decided to go to the pier and see if, maybe, he'd come out. He never did. I saw another crew member we had befriended (who was also a friend of Pavle's) and I was disappointed to hear that Pavle couldn't get the day off and that his e-mail wasn't working. I took his friend around town, but I didn't want to be with him; I wanted to be with Pavle. I passed along pictures of us via his friend. And that was how it was every 10 days: no word from Pavle, I showed up at the pier, messages via his friend...

I found out Pavle's last day of his contract was July 13th. I had to see him. I needed some kind of closure before he flew back home knowing that we might, quite possibly, never see each other again. July 13th came and we saw each other before he boarded the bus to go to the airport. We were so happy to see each other! I met up with him at the airport. He gave me perfume. We had our first kiss. We were inseparable for the hours leading up to his departure. And then he was gone. I went back home deflated. He emailed me immediately after he got home and our courtship began -- corresponding with each other via emails, Facebook, phone calls. I miss yous, I love yous, I can't live without yous...

Pavle was determined to see me again. Soon. He came to San Francisco in September. He came for me. He was here for a little less than a month and then I decided to follow him back to Macedonia. I would leave in January, 2010 and stay for a month to make sure it was what I wanted. It was and IS what I want. I spent most of last year in Macedonia and we got married, here, on January 13th.

Corny as it sounds, I have truly never known love like this before.

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Meant to Be

You know how some people say “it was meant to be?” Well, it kind of was…

We met first year university, that’s nothing spectacular, I know. He was in my tutorial for a class everyone hated. He had caught my eye ‘cause he was cute, and one day he was put in my group on a project. As group leader I knew that we all just wanted to get the whole thing over with, so when he didn’t get his stuff done on time I was very annoyed with him. And that was it. I was annoyed. 

But by this time he had a big crush on me. He became a frequent customer at the coffee shop on campus where I worked, even though he hated coffee. He came in just to see me, and hopefully talk to me. But he never said anything. The year ended, and I left.

Several years later, I visited a friend for the weekend at his college five hours away. One of the evenings we went out with a group of friends to the local bar, and walking from the bathroom I saw a familiar face. There he was. He was hanging out. We said ‘hi,’ did a little small talk, and then I joined my friends.

A few months later he was out with his friends at a club and saw me on the dance floor. He spent the whole evening psyching himself up to go dance with me and to talk me. But to no avail. He couldn’t do it. And I never even knew he was there.

Then an economic crisis hit and I had to find any job at all. So I started working at a coffee shop again. I left the location I was at to do a promotion at the Toronto International Film Festival for a few weeks. When I came back my manager told me that they hired a new guy and that when he saw my name on the schedule he said he knew me. When I saw him I just felt so happy – I had no explanation for it at the time- but it was just a bright wave. As we worked together we got to know each other, and within a week he asked me out. Within six months, he got down one knee, and less than a year later we said our vows. That was over 7 years, one dog, and a baby girl ago.

At first you may not like the one you’re supposed to be with. You may find him annoying. But if fate throws you two together enough times, you finally get the message.

And the adventure continues daily!

Joanna
ModaMama.blogspot.com

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: High School Crush

On my first day as a freshman in high school, I was laughing with my new best friend in class and suddenly noticed the senior assistant. My freshman-self had found her first high school crush. He had longish brown hair and the most amazing eyes I had ever seen. Not only did I see him as ridiculously gorgeous, but for some strange reason I wanted to get to know this guy. Naturally with all the shyness involved, it never really got past the "hi", smile, barely-an-acquaintance deal. Eventually he graduated and years went by without seeing him, but I would randomly think about him from time to time.

Sometime in early 2010 I was at a friends house and noticed my high school crush on my friend's Facebook page. I was too afraid to add him thinking that he probably wouldn't remember me and that I’d feel like a fool. It had been about eight years after all. A couple of months went by and then I got a friend request on Facebook from none other then him. I added him back, of course, and my dorky panicky self began thinking what I’d say to him if we talked and I wondered if he actually really remembered me. Then one day he commented on one of my photos and later that evening, he sent me a chat online asking how I was. I asked, “Do you even know who this is?” He replied said yes and mentioned that we were in a computer class together, which made me blush. So we talked for a bit, he gave me his number and we started texting and ended up talking for hours and hours that same night. We realized we had a bunch in common and he really wanted to take me on a date which of course I said yes to. Just that morning, I had been thinking about how much I want to go on a date since it had been awhile. I never expected that my little thought/wish would come true. You can bet I went to bed with a big smile on my face that night.

We talked every night from then on and it still never ever gets old. I feel lucky. I mean, who else would dance with me in the kitchen at midnight or sing with me in the car? Who else would make up stories for me every night about the adventures we'll have together? This is the guy that sits with me and holds me while I cry my eyes out and always makes it better. This is the guy who tells me all the time that I am the most beautiful, creative, and talented person he has ever met and that I have a beautiful mind and can do anything I want. He is extremely encouraging and always believes in me. I wouldn’t trade him for the world, and sometimes when we are just on the couch watching a movie, I can’t help but think to myself and smile that I got the one I wanted. Not only is it amazing that I found someone who understands my silliness and is just as silly as me, but I found someone that I can honestly say I fall in love with over again every single night.

We like to say that we just had a preview all those years ago…that God simply put us in the same room to know the other existed and sent us on our way to grow and learn on our own, and that when it was the right time, we’d meet and learn and grow in love together. And that's exactly what we do every day.

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Happiest Place on Earth

Tad and I met when we were students in San Diego. I was a pharmacy student and he was a medical student and we were both assigned to work on the same medicine team at the VA hospital. My attempt to interact with Tad was very dorky: I would page him to tell him about the side effects and correct dose of medication for his patient, and then get all flustered and tongue-tied. He on the other hand, always came off smooth and charming. A few months after we met, Tad asked me out to dinner at his favorite Japanese restaurant. Even though I had just eaten (and was very full), I said I was hungry and gladly accepted! We've been inseparable ever since.

Two years later, we both moved to Los Angeles and one of our favorite things to do was visit Disneyland. We are still season pass holders and have had many date nights there. In 2009, we signed up for the Disneyland Half-Marathon. After we crossed the finish line, Tad got down on one knee, untied one of his shoelaces, and pulled out a diamond ring. I was so caught off guard, but when I realized he was proposing, I no longer felt exhausted and tired. I was the happiest girl in the happiest place on earth.

We were married on September 2010 (less than a year ago!) and it was a very emotional and magical day. I couldn't imagine walking down the aisle to anyone else but Tad and I'll never forget the moments we shared, both together and with our family and friends, on that special day. Tad and I both agreed that this is hands down, the happiest year of our lives. We truly enjoy every minute together, whether it's exploring new places, eating at a new restaurant, going out to get ice cream, or just watching TV in bed with our two dogs. One of my favorite things about our relationship is that we are so silly together and we are constantly making each other laugh. We tell each other all the time how lucky we both feel to have found each other. Sometimes I still can't believe how I got so lucky.

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Mismatched

“It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.” --Anonymous

Some lessons can only be learned through experience and this quote is one of them. Our story probably won’t end up in the “happily ever after” section of any love story collection, but it's enough to make its claim and space.  

We couldn’t be more mismatched as a pair. He is cynical and logical, while I’m idealistic and creative. He is in the Air Force and lives in the small town of Del Rio, Texas, where his daily life is regimented and disciplined. I, on the other hand, am a working Interior Design student in Arizona. I relish in the chaos and barely sleep because I am a slave to my craft. He likes stability and controlled situations, which is probably a byproduct of being in the service. Everything that he likes and is, is so different from everything that I like and am. As if being complete opposites wasn’t an uphill battle already, he and I live 800 miles away from each other… 856.86 miles to be precise. To develop feelings for each other was improbable and just plain silly.

But the heart has a mind of its own.  The heart wants what it wants.  

Daily instant message chats turned into phone calls that turned into video chats…. Until one day, to much hesitation from both of us, we decided to go to California together. I went on vacation with a guy I had never met. Prior to leaving for our vacation, my concern was how long this trip was going to last, but what I didn’t anticipate was that six days was never going to be enough.

In those six days, I managed to fall for someone with whom I never saw coming. I never had a chance. You see, I have spent the last three years focusing on myself and my family. I’ve built a wall higher than the Great Wall of China and no one has managed to get over it, let alone tear it down.  All it took was six days, and he managed to find the me that I hid for so long. He didn’t do it with romanticized grandeur gestures. He did it through small acts of kindness that probably would have gone unnoticed by most. 

Six days ended and reality sunk in. He and I went back to our respective cities – he in Del Rio, Texas, and me in Mesa, Arizona. I understand now that circumstances and wrong timing sometimes cannot be overcome. He will be going off to Indiana to attend school and I will be going off to pursue my design career elsewhere. We have exciting things ahead of us, and even though I wish those exciting things were headed in the same direction, I am still so happy for the both of us. He taught me to care deeply for someone without asking anything in return. I don’t know if he ever fell for me as deeply as I did since he is a man of very few words, but that is irrelevant in my book. I learned to be open and giving and to share the part of me that I suppressed. Truth be told, I miss our friendship the most. And as much as I loved holding his hand or good morning kisses, it's the way he could make me smile when I'm reminded of an inside joke that still lingers. I wish him nothing but the best in love and in life. He is deserving of it. I can only hope that I brought him just as much light and care into his world as he has with mine, and that he wishes the same great things for me as I do for him.

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Silly Situations

“I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox” – Woody Allen

I wish I could tell of you of a love that started out purely and classically romantic. But I can’t. No romance, no cute flirty sayings, just a girl who really needed to use the bathroom and a boy who just happened to be using it at the same time. Now you’re probably all wondering why I was in the men’s bathroom to begin with, but they were cleaning the women’s bathroom on my dormroom's floor and I thought I could sneak into the men’s bathroom quickly without anyone noticing. I pushed the bathroom door to go in and he pulled it from the other side to leave. I froze, stared at how cute he was for a second, and managed to stupidly blurt out, “I’m sorry. Can I pee with you?” Very classy, I know. He then said something like, “Uh... okay...” It was a little traumatizing to say the least.

As awkward as this encounter was, I’m glad that it happened. We shared a laugh at how awkward the situation was at our next run-in and it led to hello’s in the hallway, talks in the common area, and eventually walks around our campus and dates at the dining hall. Soon we were hanging out every chance we got and now four years later, we are still going strong and getting ourselves into as many silly situations as possible. We’ve had countless picnics in Central Park. We’ve watched too many marathons of House and Law & Order SVU. We’ve spent a ridiculous amount of hours walking around New York City. We’ve had our fights, cries, and laughs, but I couldn’t picture doing any of this with anyone else.

He is my best friend, my rock, and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, god willing. We have been there for one another through endless amounts of finals, library days, and LSAT and GRE freak outs. We have graduated from our university and are in the process of getting our lives together, bit by bit. I will be starting law school in September and he will start going for his PhD a year from now. Though we will be farther away from one another, our love will always bring us together and I couldn’t have asked for a better man to spend these last crazy four years with. We’ll be starting a new scary journey, but I know we’ll be fine as long as we have one another… and lots of good food. We’re pretty big on eating. ♥

See the first Love Stories entry here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Still Being Written

I was fresh on U.S. soil from a summer working in Ireland. I had just graduated college and used my summer abroad as an excuse to post-pone “real life”. I was in search for a job while aiding in the care of my grandma. When the announcement came that she would make it home from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving, my family was elated and began to hustle to make her house wheel-chair accessible. My aunt and uncle called a young man from Wisconsin they had met a few years earlier. He quickly built a wheel chair ramp sturdy enough for a sumo-wrestler and was thanked with an invitation to the family Thanksgiving celebration.

In all honesty, I was reluctant to meet this “single guy” that was coming to Thanksgiving. I was tired of people trying to set me up, when I wasn’t interested in dating. (I had this crazy idea that the excitement of all relationships fizzles into a mediocre contentment and I was willing to wait as long as I needed to meet the man that would take those fears away. Call it a trust issue, I’m not sure, but it was certainly cynical and fearful.) And then enters the cute, charming, contractor named Erik. My world just about stopped, although I would have NEVER admitted it.

Erik’s charm followed me through the next couple of months. We saw each other at random family events until he became a regular attendee at my church. He pursued, and to everyone’s surprise, I let him. We both began working with the church youth group and spent many late hours in the church parking lot talking and laughing together. It didn’t take long before he taught me how to trust that my heart was better kept in his hands than in my own (yes, the romantic is coming out!).

Soon after, he knelt to the ground on a cliff overlooking the San Francisco skyline while we were celebrating my birthday. His question was returned with an immediate “yes,” the easiest question I’ve ever answered! We are two years in and can’t wait for a hundred more.

There has never been a point where we have needed our own space. We aren’t perfect, but we love to experience life together… as one. He is the sweetest gentleman, the most dedicated provider, and, well, to put it plainly, the hottest man I know. I certainly am blessed and wouldn’t change a single page in our love story. It wouldn’t be much of a story without a thrilling adventure, a few tears along the way, and copious amounts of laughter. Thankfully, our story is still being written.

See the first Love Stories entry here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected. 

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Love Stories: Letting Someone Go

In South Korea, the stigma for unwed mothers is severe and saving face is sometimes the most important thing. For my young birthmother of 14 years old, letting her pride go and giving me to a new family us the best way she could show me how much she loves me.

When I was little, I would write letters to my birthmother and dream of meeting her. I patiently awaited my high school graduation because my parents told me they would take me to Korea as a gift. When it came close to that time and my family began looking into a Korean adoptee travel program, we received a letter about Korean birthmothers. In Korea, reputation is everything and if a married woman is found that she had a child out of wedlock, it is social suicide. Her husband will divorce her and she will loose her family. I cried as my adoptive mother read me this letter and realized wanting to meet my birthmother was selfish. Just as my birthmother showed her love for me by giving me up for adoption and a better life, I wanted to show my love for my birthmother by protecting her the best way I could: turning down my trip to Korea and putting my search for her on hold.

Four years after reading this letter and 22 years of life, I still think of my birthmother everyday. In the last four years, I have learned more about Korean culture and the language. I have learned the name of my birthparents through accessing my adoption records. I have placed a letter in my adoption file for my birthmother to read if she ever chooses to do so. I have done everything possible to achieve the dream of teaching English in Korea by graduating from college and securing a job in Korea starting in mid-June. Even though I will be in Korea and closer to my birthmother than ever, I will never know if I get the chance to tell her how much I love her in person. Instead, I’ve chosen to show her how much I love her by learning about my culture, living my dreams, and praying for her everyday that her life is filled with nothing but happiness. It’s true when they say that sometimes love is letting someone go. To my birthmother - thank you for loving me selflessly enough to give me up to a mother who shows me how selflessly she loves me everyday. Any girl would be lucky to have two amazing mothers like I have.

--Caitlin Saylor

See the first Love Stories entry here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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Love Stories: From Cooties to Love

"Once in your life, if you are very lucky, you will meet the person who divides it to the time before you met him/her and the time after." 

My time happen when I was six years old. I was at a baseball game, sitting on the bench waiting for my turn to bat. I turned to the little boy next to me and said, "Hi, I heard you were home schooled, so am I." He looked at me and said, "Yeah... so?" From that day on that sarcastic little boy has been in my life and has grown to be the man that I hope to spend the rest of my life with. We went from the stage of "little boys and girls have cooties," to "oh, I guess you're not that bad to talk to," to best friends and then all of that turned into love. 

In no way is our relationship perfect, but the imperfections of it is what keeps it fun. I'm with the guy that saw all my nerdy awkward teenage years and still wanted to be with me. It's amazing the way God maps out your life. If someone had told me that the little boy I said hi to when I was just 6 years old would be the guy I ended up with 15 years later, I never would have believed them. I'm living my own romance story, and I wouldn't change a thing.

♥

See the first Love Stories entry here! If you would like to submit your story, please send an e-mail to lovestories@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos, and we welcome creativity! Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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Love Stories

Welcome to our newest series, Love Stories. Tell us your love story, submit your photos, and we'll share it here. We want to know how you met your significant other, how your puppy makes you smile, why your best friend is your best friend, and any other stories you have in your heart. Love is in the air. Let's embrace it. ♥

We're excited to share our first Love Letters submission today! Mai and Josh, the creators and owners of Ruche, share their story:

Mai's side of the story:

Josh and I officially met at a friend’s Halloween house party in 2002. I was a little vampire (a quick costume I found at the 99 cents store) and Josh was too cool to come dressed up.  I was “trying” to play the guitar and this boy came and sat next to me and asked what I was playing.   It was the intro to Led Zeppelin –“Stairway to Heaven”, the only song I really knew how to play.   A bit of chit chatting and by the end of the night, he asked for my number.    The journey started from there. Our first date:  Starbucks & star gazing at the beach. 2nd date:  Gina's Pizza across from our university.  3rd date:  movie?  I'm quite forgetful.   I remember coming out of the first date thinking, “this guy is such a show off”…..later to find out that he was just a dork who was trying to impress me.  I love dorks!

As our time together passed, Josh and I became inseparable.  We studied together, hung out together, and as we both got our first jobs, we always tried to have lunch together and see each other after work.   A lot of people have asked...how are you two always together…don’t you guys need some space apart?  What can I say...we just love each others company! I guess it’s just that type of relationship.   In 2004, we bought a puppy together and it was the most precious purchase we’ve ever made.   Roji, our American eskimo remains our only “son”….for now.   As we both settled into our full time jobs, it was time to think of our future together.   In 2005, on a trip to Cancun, we were walking along an empty beach during sunset when Josh got down on one knee and proposed.  ­There was no questions or doubt in my mind when I said "Yes". 

We married in 2006 and now we are even more inseparable.  Ruche developed in the midst of it all and Josh supported me in every way.  While all his roommates were playing some game called “WoW”, Josh was busy shipping orders  (Sorry Josh!).   I’m sure he would rather have played games with the rest of his friends at that time, but he says it was worth it in the end. =)   Ruche would not be the way it us today without both of us (you can read more on Ruche's store in our "About Us".   As a husband and wife team, we live together, carpool together, and work together.   People, do not attempt to try this at home unless you are skilled (lol)!  As in any normal relationship, there is a bit of annoyance and bickering here and there but being together 24/7 (literally) has taught us so many things and have only made us stronger.   Josh and I are as happy as ever because to us, we are the most lucky people in the world.  =D

 Josh's side of the story:

Mai and I officially met at a friend's Halloween house party in 2002. I initiated getting her number, but she instigated the conversation with her guitar playing vampire costume. I thought someone who could come up with that idea must be very intriguing, and I had to know more about her. We went on a few dates, but I most enjoyed visiting her at her job at a tea cafe nearby campus. Not only was there good tea, but Mai was also there. Our first year and a half flew by, by the time I graduated I had to decide whether or not I should move back to San Jose where there were plenty of jobs awaiting. I knew I wanted to stay, but I was broke...

Mai was very supportive while I finished school and searched for a job. In between job hunting I would bring our dog, Roji, to a park nearby her work and have lunch. I was fortunate to land a job close enough to meet up with Mai for lunch almost everyday. There were 2 highlights of everyday that I looked forward to, lunch time with Mai and going home. Mai and I  and our sidekick Roji enjoyed our time together so much that I felt it would be cool to make it last forever, so I proposed on our first big trip to Cancun. Of course she said yes. ;)

Life after marriage has only gotten better, and the beginning of Ruche has only enhanced our relationship in a positive way. It hasn't always been easy as I sacrificed much by alienating myself from video games and golf while I focused on selling women's clothing online (haha). Believe me, that was a tough pill to swallow, but it was worth every bit of it. Having a wife as a coworker has its perks definitely. I'm the happiest guy in the world showing up to work everyday with Mai, and on occasion even showing up with Roji. Perhaps someday our family will grow to Josh + Mai + Roji +? sooner or later... keep checking back for that kids line ok? ;)

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