In 2007, I was a 25-year-old new teacher working on my master’s degree. My world was my family, my dog, work and school. I dedicated a lot of my time on developing lesson plans, teaching, grading papers, and working on my graduate degree. I worked 10+ hours a day, 6-7 days a week. I was a work-a-holic or a study-a-holic. I knew it was time to have a little fun.
Because I worked for a small parochial school, in a profession dominated by women, finding “the perfect guy” was not going to be at work. I worked way too much and I studied and wrote papers on my “free time”. The only place else I’d find the right guy was church or the library. Neither of those happened…
Instead, on April 30, 2007, I took a break from writing a paper and logged onto a website called Match.com. Just for fun, I signed up thinking about how weird this would be. I needed a little adventure, so I did the unthinkable.
I met a few guys and each turned out to be a learning experience. It definitely opened my eyes to the world and showed me the qualities that I did and did not like in a person.
As the school year was coming to an end, I was really excited. I had a free Vegas trip lined up in July with colleagues from work. I was looking forward to (believe it or not) a teacher’s convention at the Riviera Hotel. I was also looking forward to freedom from grading papers and an opportunity to use my Match account and meet more faces. I was really excited to be 25 and free from long-term or serious relationships. However, before my vacation even began, I heard some really, really horrible news. My Dad’s surgery went wrong.
Throughout my summer vacation, my dad was sick and was in and out of the hospital. I was a mess and my escape was by meeting new people. I guess I just needed someone to talk to, someone who didn’t know me or would judge me based on my situation because, in fact, they didn’t need to know. It was my escape from reality.
By the end of August, I decided to give Match one final try before going back to work. I scrolled until the last search page came up… and there he was – LuckyNumber3r. I sent him a message… and then he replied. Lots of e-mails, text messages, and chat boxes were exchanged during the next 2 weeks…
I would say the rest is history, but it really wasn’t. After chatting online, then texting via phone, we decided to meet at the Starbucks at (formerly) The Block in Orange on September 11. There’s one thing I must disclose, I met him because he was nice and fun to talk with. He sounded like a great friend to have around. I was not looking for a relationship because I was dealing with a lot; considering my Dad was ill and my family needed me. While getting to know him, I had someone else for him in mind – one of my girl friends. I was playing match-maker.
After a month of hanging out, he finally asked me where this friendship was going. I wanted to remain friends because I enjoyed his company. He made me laugh and I felt really excited to hang out and talk with him. However, I was faced with an ultimatum. Mr. LuckyNumb3r was “not looking for friends”. We either move on and make a relationship out of this friendship… or “The End”.
“Wow! Quite harsh!”, I thought to myself. I couldn’t lose this friendship because I enjoyed his company too much, so I opt to see where it would take me. I am so glad that this friendship has blossomed into so much more. My match-making skills failed… and my attempt to set up LuckyNumb3r with someone else never happened…and to this day, my friend never knew my secret plan. In the end, I’m the Lucky One.
The Last 7 Years Through Her Eyes
2007
I took the leap and adopted my very own dog, a Maltipoo, named Cotton.
I met LuckyNumb3r AKA Joey.
2008
I had a trip of a lifetime with Joey and Adelle to Whistler, Canada.
I lost my Super Hero, my Dad. Joey was my rock. He allowed me to cry, be sad and mourn.
To help with the grief, Joey and I adopted a long-haired Dachshund. We named him Meeko the Beastmaster.
2009
Joey pushed me. I thought I had lost the battle and had no energy to fight after my Dad died. I had 3 classes left before graduating with my Master’s Degree. I completed my M.Ed in April 2009.
2010
Joey and I opened our very own design company with very little money and no prior business experience. We called it JoeyLeslieCreative.
2011
We acquired our first letterpress machine for our business. It was an emotional rollercoaster trying to get this antique equipment from one location to another. It was an adventure, nonetheless! Letterpress looked neat and produces awesome quality prints… but we had no training on how to use this machine. We bought it anyways in hopes to learn. We named him Oscar, as in Oscar the Grouch. (He wouldn’t cooperate with us; so he was just grouchy… plus he’s painted green.)
2012
We kept pushing our business and decided to open up a separate business for our letterpress products… By this time we knew what we were doing. Sorta. Creative Pear Paperie was born.
The marriage talk begins. Scary thoughts enter my head.
2013
Joey surprised me with a Disneyland proposal. I couldn’t ask for it to happen any other way.
2014
We’re getting married in Oak Glen, California!
The ‘real’ Paragas Adventures begins August 3, 2014