If cupid's arrow came looking for us, it definitely took a winding path along the way. In what was the start of a true roller coaster of missed opportunities and fate, Sami and I first met when in college in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He was an engineer, with a close group of friends, and like all college guys was up late or out late. I was a fashion-minded business school student, with a close group of friends and a part-time job to fuel my shopping needs. Frustrated with the dating experiences I had been having at school, I was chatting about my ideal guy with a coworker at the clothing store where I worked when I glanced out the window to see just that - my ideal guy - was walking by. I casually mentioned to my coworker that he was exactly what I was looking for, and then got back to hanging dresses thinking nothing of it.
About 15 minutes later, fate stepped in when that same guy walked right into the store. He was shopping with a friend of his and casually roaming the store. With a knowing glance at my coworker, not believing my bizarre luck, I decided I had to take advantage of the moment. Completely out of character, I struck up a conversation with him and, after he asked, ended up giving him my number. From that moment on, we were inextricably linked through every curve that life was getting ready to throw at us.
For the next year, we went through our ups and downs. During that time, we dated, broke up, decided we were better off as "friends", separated and reunited in Toronto where we rekindled the romance only to let it burn out again. Through all of those life changes, there were things we both wanted to accomplish and though we clearly had strong feelings for each other, being together just wasn't in the cards. We still wanted to be connected, turned to each other for advice, made each other laugh, and understood each other as only we could. We put the "friend" label back on and began dating other people.
Over the course of the next 4 years, Sami and I were best friends, and it suited us just fine. We kept in touch even when I had moved away to New York. He came to visit and we always made time to talk on the phone or email about important life events. Our lives were taking on new directions, and for a while it seemed like we had found our final role in each other's lives and hearts. Soon after, when my plans to remain in New York changed, I returned to Toronto, ready to start a new chapter in life and work.
Suddenly being at home, with friends, and a new career I loved, things just started to come together. Sami and I started to be inseparable. We would go to parties together, go out for brunch and dinner, and spend nights in with friends playing board games or watching movies. All around us eyebrows would raise and friends would whisper, are they really just friends? People would tease us endlessly about getting back together and eventually, their taunts became true.
After knowing each other for 5 years, dating, not dating, being friends and occasionally being foes, Sami and I realized we were truly meant to be together. Sami proposed on my birthday in Antwerp, Belgium in 2007 and we were married over 5 years ago in Toronto. Now, having known each other for the past 12 years, we've continued to have adventures every year, the most exciting of which has been having our son Cole. Cole is an incredible reflection of both Sami and I and reminds us every day how a moment of bravery in our college years changed the course of our lives forever.