I met Mike at the end of my second year of college. We both attended Ohlone College, a community college in Fremont, with plans to transfer to a University of California campus. While our fields of study were different, we definitely shared interest in many other things to talk about -- mainly politics. We went our separate ways, but we kept in touch...

Bruce met Mike when he moved out here from the east coast. Bruce has enjoyed role-playing gaming since his childhood, and quickly joined a group when he moved here in 1993. One of these gamers led him to join Mike's group -- as Mike is one of the best-read people I know, this group was full of character and richness. Bruce and Mike became good friends, and stayed up until the wee hours chatting some evenings (while Mike was waiting for his wife to get home from work!)

In the beginning of 1996, I stopped by Mike's apartment to chat and exchange some paperwork on a project. That happened to be Gaming Day, and I stuck around as the gamers wandered in. The first to show up was Bruce. He seemed nice enough, and we chatted briefly, but I was soon off on my merry way. Bruce tells me after the fact that when I had left, he asked Mike who I was, because "she's cute, and she seemed interesting." We exchanged email for a bit, but I was too blind to see the opportunity being presented to me.

Fast forward to January 1999. I was looking for a job at the time, and as I had free time, I stopped by Mike's place to chat a few times. This was all the impetus he needed to get me back in touch with Bruce. I don't know why I was wary to start dating at that point, but I was... and it took a bit of prodding, but I got together with him occasionally.

In true SillyCon Valley geek fashion, Bruce built a web site about why he loved me. Sounds silly, and many women would consider it "stalking," but I felt I knew Bruce well enough at the time -- and it's kinda cute! Please do take a look -- http://www.dreamfire.com/brooke/

The first time I stopped by was to watch ER together at his place. I can't say that I was immediately smitten... but as time went on, I knew that we are soulmates, and that there will be no other.