The year, 2008. I was just starting my sophomore year at Loyola University and moved into the dorm, blocks away from the John Hancock. In desperate need for a job, and for love of fruit, I applied to Jamaba Juice. After a few interviews, I finally got to have THE interview with bossman Jesse. Who was this mysterious man that this team treated with so much reverence? I realized I immediately needed to impress this man, but it had to come from the heart. Well I must have said something right because I got the job!

In the months to follow, I became his opener on the weekends and got to know him more and more. He would bring me coffee and I thought he was hitting on me. (Turns out he bought coffee for all of his openers!) After that realization, I knew I wanted to be special to him. I worked hard, went to company outings, got promoted, and into his good graces. 

The summer of 2009 was my first summer in Chicago, and first apartment in the city. I found myself spending more time with Jesse. He took me to restaurants with his god-daughter and co-workers, movies, and my first Taste of Chicago. I began asking him for dating advice and anything else he would tell me. If we weren't with each other, we were texting jokes or flirts. Finally, I asked him to breakfast at Tempo Cafe before work to have our first one-on-one outing. He, in return, asked me to dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Infusion. I have never felt more comfortable talking to a guy in my whole life! Soon after, he invited me to his place to cook for me and watch Zoolander and he kissed me! I knew after that kiss, we were heading towards something special.

After knowing each other for over 6 years and dating for well over 5, I have not once regretted a thing with this lovely man, I call my fiance. We have been there through deaths and tragic circumstances, promotions and successes. We have never had a single drag-out screaming argument. I am so lucky to have such a beautiful, understanding, loyal, strong, and fiercely loving partner in my life! 

Now, Jesse might spin some trashy tale below about his piety or whatnot. Prepare yourself for a tale because he is quite the jokester. After all, he might be the love of my life, but he is the trashiest person I know.

The year was 2008, I was running the busiest store in the Midwest for my company.  I spent all of my spare time in bible studies and volunteering at the orphanage.  One day in September this young lady walked into my store and filled out an application.  I had a couple of my management trainees interview her.  Then I interviewed her and hired her.  I didn't think much of her at the time but as the months passed we would notice each other more and more.

Then one day in August, I got over my shyness of women and asked Emma to come over to my place, she said yes. A couple weeks later we were at the Botanical Gardens and I professed my love.  We were at would become the future site of my marriage proposal to her 5 years later.

These last 5 1/2 years have been the best of my life.  Like any other couple we have had our share of ups and downs brought on by life.  But we have had each other to help weather those untimely storms.  Emma is the best partner in life I could have ever hoped for.  She has such a big heart and an integrity not many people in this world have.  She is always in a good mood and has a smile on her face.  More importantly she puts up with me.  Anyone that meets her for the first time knows she is something special. 

I look forward to calling her wife for a long time.

**DISCLAIMER**  Emma is making me put in this disclaimer that a few of the above statements may not entirely be true.   And so we begin this never ending road of compromise.