How We Met? What really happened?

Jeh & Ivy. The Story of Us continues. Previous-click here

March 2005

JEH : The first time I met Ivy was when I was eating BBQ at KC's (Ivy's cousin, the guy who's getting married, I was his best man) house.

I still remember that Ivy had actually went out and came back later with some food stuff for the BBQ. Hmmmm... my first thought was "Who is she? Must be either KC's sister or his cousin sister that he has been talking about all the time."

Well, she caught my eyes but as a guy, you have to act cool a bit. No smile and not much interaction. Just stay cool and talk to the guys first.

On the first day we met, we did not have too much interaction. Basically just minimal chit chat because I are the groom's man and she was part of the helpers for the bride maids. But definitely she strike a very good impression on me and I wanted to know more about her.

The big wedding day arrived and I went to KC's house early in the morning to help out a bit before the show starts. Ivy, Krystal and Shen (KC's sisters) had to go to the in-laws home to prep for KC's arrival. Although they were part of the groom's side but they went over to the bride's side to be "chee mui" aka troublemakers to stop the groom from getting the bride. I volunteered to drive them there. We had some talks, laughes and fun during that 15 minutes drive. Btw, Ivy did not even remember this whole experience when we talked about it later.

But I know that today is KC's big day....so I had to concentrate on being the best man. There was a couple of occasion where the flower corsage on my suit was falling apart and needed some good eye to rearrange it. Naturally I would ask the person I want to get to know better to do that...he he he. Ivy saw that my corsage and totally knew that it needs some good adjustment. It was falling apart quick. Not sure why. Maybe it is God's doing.

Ivy was very attentive and put a lot of effort on making my dying corsage look better. I think I totally lost my corsage after a couple of run around with the bride's maid game in front of the in-laws house. Thanks to Ivy again, she is there to rescue me again with a new one. I think it was because of our close proximity eye contact that helped the sparks to turn to fire. At least for me that is. It was too late to pull back. I think I am infatuated with her by now.

When all the ceremonies were done, we were ready to party down with the Chinese dinner. As the best man it is customary to take a few drinks for the Groom...so I was prepared. But on the side I had to take the opportunity to get to know Ivy better.

When we were sitting down for dinner, I wanted to make sure I sat beside her. I managed to do just that. Some people were a bit suspicious because bride's maids and groom's men were supposed to sit together or side by side. But we were all off everywhere and we sat wherever we wanted or at least I sat exactly where I wanted to sit. We chatted a bit and I knew that Ivy would be flying off to Florida, New York and Washington for the rest of her vacation after Dallas.

My goal for that nite was at least get her email address. I had a couple of drinks and it helped with the confidence. So I leaned over and acted like I accidently asked her about her email, something about keeping in touch. I handed her my cell phone for her to input her email and she graciously gave it to me. HURRAY!. Step 1 succeeded. Time to party......

IVY :- We met at the wedding and since we were all helping out at KC's wedding, Jeh and I met a couple of times. So, what really happened? Fireworks!! Love at first sight! Uncontrollable passion!! haha! No such thing. We were very civil and polite and infact to me, he was just one of the guys at the wedding.

Honestly, my "men radar" was definitely up and about or should I say "scanning through the single men" at the wedding! You know me...30 something and single, my radar had to be up :) I was helping out with the wedding preparations and naturally I interacted with quite a few of KC's friends.

I was in-charge of the flower corsages. I remembered that Jeh's corsage was looking a bit droopy, I went up to him and volunteered to fix it for him. hehehehe....I think that simple gesture must have touched him. I tease him till now that he must have been smitten with me when I was fixing his corsage for him :)

Also, after the morning get the bride ceremony, everyone went back to KC's house for some food. I was talking to some of KC's friends and was taking photos. Hehehe.....I actually had one photo taken with Jeh at the wedding. Looking back now, this is only photo to proof that Jeh and I met at the wedding.

Photo : Jeh and I at the wedding. Look where his hands are!! :)

Anyway, that was it, I met Jeh a couple of times during the wedding, we talked a bit but then after the wedding, I left to for the rest of my US holiday in Florida, Washington and New York before heading home to Malaysia. I thought that was the last of my Dallas trip.

I went back to Malaysia. I received an email. That was how it all started.....

Jeh & Ivy : How we met?

March 2005

IVY : Jeh was in Dallas Texas since his university days, I was in Malaysia all this while. Thousand of miles apart...did not know of each other's existence. But yet....God has a plan.

In March 2005, I flew to Dallas, USA. It was my first time in the States and for good reasons. It was a much needed vacation and importantly to attend my cousin KC's wedding.

Photo : My cousin KC and I at his church wedding

Guess what? Jeh was the best man at the wedding.

At this point whenever I tell our story, I would start getting the "ooohhh and the aahhh....so romantic, like in the movies! "

But reality, that was really how we met. In a wedding, he was the best man......hmmmm... all my girlfriends still think it is so romantic to meet your loved one in a wedding. I tell them, there is hope....attend weddings...it is now a proven place to meet the man of your dreams. :)

Photo : With the lovely bridesmaids at the wedding

JEH : Actually the first time we saw each other was at the barbeque party that her cousin KC had organized to talk thru his wedding plans on March 31st 2005.

I believe Ivy was not at the party when I got to the house. She probably went out shopping or something. So when she came back to the house, her cousin was kind of telling me and my friends that Ivy is his cousin and she was here for the wedding.

I can still remember her heart melting smile. So inviting and so warm. Just cheerful whenever I think about it. I told myself that she sure know how to smile and make the people talking to her feel the closeness and friendliness.

"I have to know her....have to....have to." But I acted cool and did not smile...show cool...show confidence...well she was mostly talking to my friends more than me... he he he...not so cool then. But, essentially that was how we met. More details of the fireworks :) to come. Stay tuned.

Ooops...I am still looking for a photo of the best men and me at the wedding.

How we Met? ....The Prelude

The Story of Us (Jeh & Ivy) continues.....

JEH : As you read in our earlier postings, both Ivy and I were in our early 30s, not in a relationship and wondering when we will meet The One?

I was residing in USA and Ivy was in Malaysia. Miles apart. Did not know of each other existence. Yet God had a plan.... eventually.

But even way before we met, we were already somewhat connected.

Remember this photo from previous my blog entry. This was Ivy's brother's graduation in 1995. I only met Ivy in 2005. So what was I doing there?

Believe it or not, more than 10 years before I met Ivy, I already knew her brother who was in the States studying at the same time as me. We stayed in the same apartment block and being Malaysia students in a foreign land, we naturally hung out together once in a while. Actually I got to know Ivy's cousin KC first and then was introduced to Sam, her brother. But Sam left to go back to Malaysia after he completed his Masters. KC and I stayed on and worked in the USA after we graduated.

KC has mentioned about his cousin sister (later I found out as Ivy) who had promised to come and visit him in Arlington TX. But unfortunately, she was always busy with work and every year she did not manage to come over. So, I have only heard of a cousin sister but had no idea who she was or how she looked like.

Patience my padawan.....as Yoda always says.

IVY : Haha....yeah I still remember that I promised KC every year that I would visit him in the States... from when he was studying to his graduation to eventually he started working. But somehow, it just never happened. I was busy with work all the time and never got to plan the trip to US. Eventually KC gave up on me that I would ever visit him :)

So, my brother knew Jeh way before I met him, Jeh is my cousin KC's friend but I had to wait for more than 10 years before I got to know this person called Jeh.

So, how did we eventually meet? Ah...ha....next posting.

Before we Met....The Ivy Story

Between 1980s and 1990s

IVY : I was nerdy as a young teenager, shy, quiet and a bit reserved. With a set of really horrendous looking teeth that needed orthodontic treatment, I would say my braces saved me. :) Suddenly being able to open my mouth without hesitation, probably took a lot of the shyness away. hehe! I blossomed in my late teen years (yeah I was a late bloomer) with my first serious crush. Haha.. a crush that I never acted upon, it was fun and torturing at the same time :) all the works of an innocent infatuation. But the best memories were still the fabulous times, just being carefree and acting silly as school girls.

I am third from right. This is fun photo we took during a class excursion.

I had fun in my 20s. University life was just fantastic, I was busy in projects and had many guy friends (some... in hot pursuit for me..haha) but we just ended as good friends. I don't think I was ready for a serious relationship and everyone to me was a good friend. Some of my guys friends from university days remain my best buddies till now.

Tuan Keat and Kon - 2 of my long-time male buddies. This was taken probably 10 years ago (my birthday) but yeah..we still look the same now.

Then my work life began and there was no turning back. Working in a multinational company meant that I spent a lot of hours at work even weekends. It was by choice but that did not mean I did not have a personal life. I partied, I went out, hung out, social-social, travelled... all the works. In and out one or two relationships that I knew would never last and then by mid twenties, I decided that no more relationships unless it is the ONE. I am also very picky and very choiceful on whom I dated. Time flew by and then I hit my 30s.

I travelled to Europe, Japan, across Asia for work but somehow never to America? I wonder why? Haha God has other plans.

Hitting my 30s and not married, and with not even a "potential man" in sight has its ups and downs. "Ups" are when I am having the time of my life with my friends, "downs" are when others are nagging me about when I am going to settle down. As days, weeks and month go by, conversations with my single girl friends would be..."where is the ONE? What happened to all the good men? we gotta do something, organize a singles party, let's meet up with this guy/that guy etc etc. " No matter what, me and my BFFs always have a great time hanging out and gossipping!

Me and Janice (my BFF - Best Friend Forever) looking our best at the F1 circuit in Sepang KL.

So, where was my Mr Right? I knew that God had a plan. I just needed to be patient and have faith.

Before We Met.....The Jeh Story

Between 1980s and 1990s

JEH : I was the studious boy....nope not the bookworm type but definitely not the lady's man either. You can call it the typical Malaysian Chinese - parents wants me to make a good life through a good education. I was not fortunate to advance myself to local university and had to go to USA. Freedom!!

My dad was adamant that I go to US to get a good education and not come back until I get a Masters degree. Time flies and finally graduated in 1998.

Notice anything interesting in this photo? More stories in another post.

Off and on, I had hits and misses with the girls. I think it is more misses than hits. :) I was more of a happy go lucky person that does not worry too much about girls or finances.

I was a car nut (still am!!) and has often referred to as "new car per year" guy. he he he. It was an experience that I will never forget. I would like to own all the cars that I like...just like a little boy with his matchbox car collection...but in the real world, it is more expensive than just a few dollars per car. Ha ha ha. So, instead of a new girlfriend every year, I had a new car every year. Sometimes even 2 cars!!

Mom and dad has been pressuring about the girlfriend thingy and I told them that if they do it one more time, I will get an American girlfriend! he he he...I think that shut them up for a while. For myself, I still question if I am positioning myself as a good candidate for someone to love.....

When I turn 30+, the question becomes more prominent. It is not only that my parents were worried, I was becoming worried about the situation. I always told myself, "why am I in the US? Asian girls are scarce and they are often in hot pursuit by a lot of guys"....:(

But an enlightenment came....I want to be myself, and I want to be someone that loves me for who I truly am. I began to accept that I am me and there will be someone for everyone. Just be patience....but the patience is running short.....but there is another One....as Yoda said in Dagobah. Yup! I am a Star Wars super fan too. Did I forget to mention I am also a computer games nut!!

Alright, between cars, playstation, nintendo, Yoda, Star Wars...where is my Princess Leia??

Picture Perfect

JEH : Publishing the first photo in our blog. We always like this photo...enjoy..have a nice day.

IVY : This is one of the first few photos we took together, taken by ourselves with the digital camera, looks like the "perfect couple" don't we?

Tune in to our next entries.....The Story of Us...continues.

Jeh & Ivy Revisited

Ivy : Hello everyone! Both Jeh and I started blogging 2 years ago and this is our first blog together. We have written our journey in bits and pieces, on and off but now we have decided to revisit our blog entries and ensure we have a consistent and chronological event of our story. The Jeh & Ivy story.

Therefore as you continue this journey with us, you will find we will repost some entries we have done before but more so, we will be updating it with more details of how we met and our journey together.

Join us in our love journey. The Story of Us....Jeh & Ivy.