It's a Love Story...

I recently entered a contest to win free event design services from a local firm. The contest asked for entries telling your love story and what makes you unique as a couple. Apparently, the idea of two bankruptcy attorneys who love to dance the cat around to Taylor Swift songs where all the key lyrics are replaced with the cat's name isn't as compelling and romantic as I thought, because we didn't win. However, it inspired me to tell our story on the blog.



What, doesn't he look like Romeo? [personal photo]

Anyway, the story of how Groomy and I met is pretty mundane: he interviewed me for a job. There were no sparks flying, no googly eyes, and certainly no bow-chicka-wow music in the background. We chatted about work stuff, and I remember thinking he seemed like a nice guy (with a weird name - a weird name that will soon be MY name!).

However, despite the tame nature of our first meeting, I think it was fate that we met when we did. You see, I was set to marry another guy, with whom I had a serviceable, perfectly unremarkable relationship. I accepted it readily, as I never believed in fate or soul mates - I was the classic pragmatist and fancied myself too intellectual for such things. I didn't think I was settling - I thought that life and my relationship was as good as it gets. I was so very very wrong.

After starting that new job (and, relax, Groomy wasn't the only person who had to approve my hiring!), I sat down to chat with one of my new coworkers at a work event...and didn't move from my chair for 6 hours. Long after the group had left and the restaurant was closing, we were still talking...about politics, values, culture, friends, music, literature, and everything else under the sun. The next morning, I woke up, and I knew my life had changed completely and for good.

The story of how we fell in love is quite simple, but the way we fit together continues to amaze me. I never thought I'd meet someone who shared my values and my quirks, down to my love of vintage Simpsons and On the Border chips and salsa. We finish each other's sentences, but instead of words, it's often geeky noises (like Nelson's haha or the sad trombone). We have often remarked that we didn't think it was possible that a person like the other actually existed. I feel like the luckiest person on earth that I've met my true match.

So, when Groomy asked me to marry him (another story entirely), it was more of a collaboration than anything else. As classic type-As, we had already worked out many of the basics and all that was left at that stage was the ring. Many people relish in the theatrics of a big proposal, but ours was private, sweet, and more of a way to wrap up what we had begun together, as a team. When we discussed the possible anti-climatic effect of a proposal after the wedding date was already set, he summed things up perfectly: "How could you ever be surprised, anyway? You've known this was coming since our first date!" Actually, I think I knew even before that...

What led you to your soulmate? Was it a series of twists and turns or something more straightforward?