It was summer of 03' when Richard first laid eyes on Mary during rehearsal of a play called "Nkauj Nog" ran by Richard's older sister. Mary was center stage with the spot light on her rehearsing her lines when Richard felt his heart drop and his heart beat in his throat. It was that moment when he knew he needed to get her name because she was the love of his life. She just didn't know it yet. Richard would attend most if not all of the play rehearsals hoping that maybe Mary would recognize him but time and time again she looked right past him. Richard was a person who believed in perseverance and so he kept his head in the game and continued at attempts to make himself heard or even seen by Mary but every attempt he tried no words or movements came out. He would lose his train of thought and go completely blank even when he rehearsed his lines multiple times in front of the mirror. He eventually gave in and asked his sisters to pass on the good word that he liked her. Mary eventually learns Richard's interest in her and now she avoids him even more than before. At this point Richard feels that all hope is lost because the play is coming to the end of its mini tour and he knows once the play is over he will never get the chance to let her know how he felt about her. The play comes to an end and yet Richard has not been able to speak one full sentence to Mary. Luckily during middle school Richard receives news from his good friend Cha Pheng that Mary was in choir and they had a concert going on at their school, so Richard thought maybe this would be his moment to spill his everlasting love for her. He tags along with his friend to the concert. The concert has started, then Richard notices Mary stepping center stage getting ready to perform her solo part and at that moment Richard had the same exact feeling he had the first time he had seen her at rehearsal. His heart drops to his stomach and heart beats in his throat. He thinks to himself this is it.

I love my Dad for always looking out for me with good intentions. After I came back from my sister's bachelorette weekend the first thing he asked me was "Are you busy? I want to talk to you about something when you have time". I was cleaning out my car, "No, not busy". He comes and sits in the passenger side seat and proceeds to tell me that he has a secret and I can't tell anyone. "I don't know where you and Richard are in your relationship, but as your Father I wanted to give you a fair warning. While you were gone Richard came to ask for permission to marry you. I told him he has my blessing, but it's really up to you. I know this is supposed to be a secret, but I wanted you to know ahead of time just in case. I'm sorry". My dad is a real team player, he's always been on my team. I laughed knowing that he took away the element of surprise, only because he weighed it out and decided this was what he thought was best for me. Richard asked me a few days later during a quiet moment at his apartment. It was so hard to pretend I didn't know what was going on. Lol. He was so nervous! "I honestly don't know when is the right moment. I know this isn't wonderful by any means, but I feel like in my heart, this is the right moment. Would you do the honors and spend the rest of this life with me?". It was still special, even though I knew it was coming the whole time.