HOW WE FIRST MET: I was working as a waiter in an Italian restaurant in 1995. My brother in law's sister's husband Abdel, was the chef at the time. One night he asked me what night clubs I went to after work, I said none. He was shocked and immediately said, "We're going out!" Now let's remember he was a tall, dark and handsome Moroccan man. So off we went one Sunday night in October, 1995 to a club called Johnny Loves. (Remember Johnny Loves on Polk and Broadway? Never would you think you would meet your wife there.) As we arrived, Abdel was greeted by security with a smile and we were quickly ushered in. I noticed that it was pretty much a shark fest. Lots of men in 3 piece suits circling their prey. I felt like a fish out of water, I was the son of a preacher man from a small town on the east coast, used to meeting girls in church.
Abdel assured me I would meet the quintessential Californian girl, fair skinned, blonde haired, blue eyed beauty. I was standing there taking it all in when I was pushed towards the bar. Abdel said,"There she is!" He approached her and she smiled at his gaze. Then after a moment, I was introduced. Her smile quickly turned upside down. Unbeknownst to me, she preferred Moroccan men. Abdel said, "This is Sarah."
Her first words to me were, "Get out of my face!" "My boyfriend is from Brazil, and when he gets here, he will kick your ass!" As this exchange was happening, I noticed a bunch of girls doing the can can up on the bar, and the one closest to me was looking in my direction. As Sarah continued to berate me, Jessica, who was Sarah's best friend, was watching us as she danced on top of the bar, figured I must be a friend. Then as DJ Maestro (Prince wannabe) started playing the song Brick House by The Commodores, Jessica's face beamed as her favorite song began. She jumped down off the bar, grabbed my hand and smiled and said "Let's Dance!" I didn't know whether I was being rescued from the she-devil Sarah, or being whisked away by my future wife! Jessica and I danced the night away! The best part is that Jessica was not at all what I was expecting, instead of some Californian blondie, I fell deeply in love with a brown eyed girl from India!
Turns out, she was a flight attendant and still is. We have traveled all around the world together. It's been an adventure ever since.