Our Story
How it all started....
Our Story
Raymond and I met during nursing school in pharmacology class. I sat in front of him, and he was sitting right next to a mutual friend so naturally, we ended up becoming friends. We weren’t particularly close, though. I spent most of my time hanging out with my fellow LVNs, while he had his own group of friends.
On top of that, we lived an hour apart, me in La Puente and him in Moreno Valley. At that point in my life, the farthest I’d ever driven was Riverside, so his side of town felt like a world away.
After graduation, we both moved on with our lives, and for two years, we didn’t have any contact. Then, by chance, we matched on a dating app. I greeted him like an old friend, expecting just to catch up and share a few updates. But Raymond had other plans, he was straightforward and asked me out on a date.That date changed everything. We got to know each other all over again, discovering how much we had in common—similar upbringings, shared values, and plenty of interests to bond over. One date led to another, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Proposal
August 25, a date that already held a special place in our hearts—it was the anniversary of our first meeting in school. Little did I know, it was about to become even more unforgettable.
I was deep in the chaos of prepping for a disco-themed birthday party scheduled for the next day. Decorations, music, the works—it was a lot. Amidst the madness, Raymond, suggested we take a break and “remake” our first date. I was skeptical (and hangry!) but agreed, assuming we’d grab sushi at Sugar Fish in Pasadena, just like our very first date.
But Raymond had a surprise up his sleeve. Instead of heading to Sugar Fish, he rerouted to the Arboretum in Arcadia. Unbeknownst to me, he and his brother had scoped out the location the day before, carefully choosing the perfect spot to pop the question.
Now, picture this: I was in heels, hangry, and walking through a massive park—flashbacks to our first date, where I had walked blocks to Urth Café in heels, resulting in some serious blisters. I grumbled, “You better have a picnic set up where we’re going because I’m so hangry!”
When we finally reached the rose garden, something felt... different. Raymond accidentally entered the wrong way, which made for a funny moment, but then I spotted her—one of our family friends, poorly hiding in the bushes and pretending I hadn’t seen her. That’s when it clicked.
Raymond turned to me, visibly nervous, and shakily got down on one knee. He asked me to spend forever with him, and despite the hunger, blisters, and the whirlwind of emotions, the answer was clear: yes!
It was perfectly imperfect and so uniquely us. Now, here we are, counting down the days to the next chapter of our story.
