How we met, according to James: I started my jujitsu journey in November 2020, after some encouragement from my friend, Daniel. My first 8-weeks were a combination of trying not to be killed by my team-mates, learning often complicated and strange movements, contracting Covid (remember those days?), completing my 1,000 mile running challenge and………..first clasping eyes on the girl that I would propose to. Our first meeting was not in the traditional sense. It was mainly staring at Pamela from across the gym, trying to catch her eye or even better a smile. Alas, nothing. Over the pursuing months a similar pattern emerged, I would look across at Pamela, sometimes outright staring to little avail. Once, our paths even crossed on the way back from the water fountain, I unleashed the famous Jimmy Short smile and……nothing! I was starting to think I was invisible. Fortunately, I was not invisible, I was however a white belt and Pamela was a purple belt! I spent the next several months trying to improve my jujitsu so that I could earn some stripes and at last make it to the advanced class where I could possibly speak to Pamela or better role with her 😉 I also decided to enter the International Brazilian Jujitsu Federation (IBJJF) Open in Houston, in April 2021. Amazingly, Pamela was there, and she watched my first fight! Unfortunately, this would end up being my last fight, as I lost 13-0 ☹ Fortunately, Pamela took many photos for the gym and captured be being mounted by another man for 3-4 minutes. Even after this humiliating defeat Professor Jessica, from our gym saw something in my jujitsu abilities and decided to matchmake us. After some semi-awkward “hi” and “hellos” and Jessica shouting “don’t get submitted in front of Pamela, James!” we had our first conversation and really met in the gym’s office after Jessica invited me in to “say hello to Pamela”. Pamela was helping create hearts for one of the kid’s birthday’s. Pamela was concentrating so hard it took her several seconds to turn around and say hello. We had the usual conversation; weather, jujitsu and plans for the weekend, and then I left. Later that day, whilst driving back from my physiotherapist for yet another running injury I received a Instagram friend request from….Pamela! I responded with a memoji of me waving, with the caption “hello Pamela”. The memoji proved popular as we agreed to go on a date that Sunday, over Memorial Weekend. I picked up Pamela on Sunday night and we went to a’bouzy restaurant for champagne and oysters. We chatted all night, so much so that we were politely asked to order our dinner, or we would have to leave as the restaurant was closing. With dinner completed we went out to a few bars on Washington Avenue and danced the night away. The next weekend we went on another date and decided to date each other, officially.