In the last few days I’ve received a ton of PMs asking for an update on my last blog, “The Best (Worst) Pick-up Line Story Ever,” which a lot of you have been reading. At first I was a little confused, especially considering that I had written that blog late last year. Then I discovered that someone had recently bumped my blog and it had also made it onto the front page, a fact that I’m a little proud about.

      So I decided to show my fiance - ahem, wife - who wanted to read some of the PMs I had received and the comments as well. As we sat down to read the comments together we held hands and - probably not for the last time - marveled at our own story, which itself seems sometimes to us a bit like a fairytale. As we read through your comments we both got a little overwhelmed and teary-eyed, mostly because you were all so sincere and heartfelt, but also because it made us realize how lucky we are.

      Often times when people discover that my wife is German they immediately want to know how we ended up together. I always think of this blog when I’m asked this question and often wish I could somehow let them read it, but instead have to give them the amended version, which also has the ability to draw a few “awww’s” and “ooh’s.”

      In any case, without further ado, some pictures!

      We were married on the sand with our family and friends. Only her parents and a few of her friends were able to make it from Germany, but nevertheless it was a beautiful and picturesque ceremony.

      After a whole lot of crying and hugging and pictures we were driven to our reception in an old classic car, where we were greeted by the music from an eight-piece Mariachi band and the cheering of our guests. It was really a surreal moment that was made more magical by the lightning from the sunset and the realization that I had somehow just conned the world’s most beautiful woman into marrying me. Seriously. I kept wondering how the hell I was so lucky to have such a wonderful wife and an equally wonderful family (who, for the most part, organized my whole wedding – gotta love Mexican families!).

      As of now we’re living in a little one-bedroom apartment near the University of Riverside (UCR) and life couldn’t be better. Steffi’s still waiting on her EAD (Employment Authorization Document) to start work, but in the meantime she’s relaxing after years of studying and working in Berlin. I’m going to school and just got a part-time job in the Reading and Writing lab. Most days we spend time together talking and going on walks or bike rides around the neighborhood. We often have company over because we both love to entertain and I’m a pretty good hand in the kitchen. Lately I’ve been letting Steffi into the kitchen with me and we’ve both had an awesome time trying out new recipes together (sometimes stoned out of our minds, hehe).

      I would be lying, though, if I said that it’s been a breeze. It’s been a little bit of a challenge, for both of us – changing the way we have lived for years, separate from one another. But it’s a beautifully complicated process as well. In our compromises, however big or small, we are both maturing and changing and at the end of the day, when we get into bed together, there is no greater certainty than the love between us. When I go to bed at night, I no longer have to wonder where she is or what she’s doing because she’s here, with me, at last. I don’t know if love is truly forever, or if we will stay together forever, but whatever happens between the two of us, I will be forever glad that at least we made the leap. At least we crossed huge divides, literally and figuratively, to be together. At least we tried.

      Again, thank you to everybody who’s taken the time read my blog. I’m really glad that so many of you felt inspiration and hope in your own pursuits for love and wish you all the best.