Wedding Blog
Three years ago, I flew back to California from Chile. This is actually the 2nd time I’ve lived in Chile! There’s an awesome 3-month summer science research program for undergraduates at the observatories in Chile, and I took advantage of this before I finished my bachelors.
When I came home, I didn’t yet know Mr. Bear Cub. In fact, I was living with my (now ex) boyfriend. We both knew it was going to end soon, though. A month after I was back in the states, he drove with me (and all my crap) to help me move in to my new life in New Mexico. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. I was with this guy for nearly 4 years of my life, and even though I had loved him, I knew we wouldn’t make it as a couple (friends, maybe, but we’ll see on that).
Anyway, in July of 2006 I uprooted myself and moved to New Mexico to start a new chapter in my life. I started grad school, I was single, and I was making friends on my terms.
While I was settling into my office one day, a little Bear Cub popped out of a box to greet me!
NMSU, July 2006
His name was Mr. Bear Cub, and he was the friendliest little bear I’d met in a long while. I was pretty lonely after my move, and he became a great friend. I found out that he had just gotten back from seeing friends in the Bay Area - he had been vacationing in the town that I had just moved from!
Mr. Bear Cub is the kind of guy who will be your friend first, if that’s what you need. This was probably the main reason we were able to get to know each other so well so fast. I really didn’t want to date anyone in New Mexico; I didn’t think I would find anyone well suited to my quirks there.
He told me later that he had had a crush on me from the moment he met me! (Can you believe it?? An actual crush! I thought that was so adorable. 
) Even though he liked me romantically, he didn’t want to jeopardize our relationship as friends, so for a month we spent time getting to know one another. We watched movies no one else wanted to watch, we hiked the Organ Mountains, we talked about how the West Coast is like, totally awesome and radical (we both missed the rain a ton), and we finished many a delicious pint at the local brewery, High Desert (we both agreed the hoppier, the better).
Las Cruces, NM, August 2006
Then we decided we should go on a camping trip before school started in late August. I’ll save the details for a later post, but I will say this - our first kiss was like FIREWORKS. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before!
From there on out, things moved pretty quickly. Before we knew it, we were flying to his home in Portland, Oregon to celebrate Christmas!
This trip really sealed the deal. I met his family, and life with him really felt like home. Isn’t that a great feeling - when life with your fiancé/husband feels like home?
All our days since have just been steps towards building a life together.
Cannon Beach, December 2006
Chinese Gardens, Portland, OR, December 2006
A month after we got back from Christmas break, we moved in together. We rented a cute little house outside of town, and made it our home for a year and a half until we moved away from New Mexico.
Mesilla, NM, September 2008
Have you ever made a drastic change in your life, only to discover something wonderful come from it? In your years of dating, did you ever have to get up the courage to end a stagnant (but comfortable) relationship?
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Share this post: How To Meet and Woo a Bear Cub
aww this sounds like my fiance and I. We too got together because of grad school and our love of science.
Wow, you’ve got some amazing pictures of your time getting to know Mr. Bear Cub! (And, on a random note, Mr. Bruschetta and I both looooove hoppy beer, too.)
I found my husband in New Mexico after I left my bf of then 4 years. It was crazy leaving friends and family for the new life in a different state, but I obviously am very glad I did so 
What a great story!
Although I probably would have been totally freaked out if a complete stranger hid in a giant box in my new office
I love the images that you’ll have forever to document the evolution of your relationship! Great story.
@Miss Gloss: haha actually he was just goofing around a few weeks after we met . “we met among other grad students at lunch” isn’t as interesting as “he popped out of a box”
Yes! I met Mr. Mary Jane at work, in a town I didn’t really want to live in, and when I was DEFINITELY not looking for anyone to date. But we’re unstoppable now!!
@Miss Mary Jane: isn’t it crazy how things just happen like that??
Good to know he didnt “really” pop out of a box. I probably would have hit him - think wack-a-mole, haha!
Aww My Fiance and I met on similar terms. It was good and being friends for a while made our relationship so strong.
Oh my goodness! I think your fiance was a teaching assistant in one of my classes at NMSU! Can’t remember which department though. Biology? Anyway, I remember him as being a super cool guy–one who always wore mismatched socks and was quite a good teacher. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Will you be getting married in the LC?
@Sarah: haha! no, silly - not biology! astronomy!
Yes. he always mismatches his socks. I’ve given up.
He said he’d match his socks for the wedding if I got him some super sweet new ones, though!
No way! I mean, the dude isn’t defined by his mismatched socks, but that’s his thing. Mismatched argyles would be super cute.
That’s right, astronomy. That was an awesome class!
If you need tips on wedding vendors in New Mexico let me know. Finding people in Las Cruces can be kind of a challenge. We looked all over southern NM for the perfect location and just couldn’t be away from the Organs. So, as difficult as it is to plan a wedding in that town, it can be done!
@Sarah: We’re not getting married in NM, but if we were, I think white sands on a full moon night at sunset would be spectacular
I have friends who were married out there. The pictures were fantastic!
Well, good luck in your planning and again, congratulations!
The west coast (esp Oregon) is, like, totally awesome. I always miss the rain, too - I don’t know HOW you are surviving in the desert! My actual thought when I saw the observatory in James Bond was “yuck.”
I’m just going to say that so far your life is way too much like mine, and it’s totally weirding me out. …in a good way, of course.
I had ended a 5 year relationship before I gave the “dari” half of darilinda a chance. I knew him for 5 years but gave another guy the time of day instead. I don’t regret it because i learned a lot from it, and it gave me and the fh the chance to be friends, which is something we fall back on in times of annoyance. I definitely understand your situation, but it lets you know, some things are meant to be.
Very sweet story. Similar to mine in the stages. Best of wishes and looking forward to your posts!
You’re story about the ex is very similar to mine. I finally made the move out of Virginia to Atlanta with the guy I was seeing at the time. We both knew it would end but hadn’t given up hope until 1 month after I moved. I met my fiancé 10 months later… after starting a new life in Atlanta by myself. It was like I was supposed to make that move just to have him in my life!
That box picture is priceless! You guys are too cute together!
I totally understand! My last boyfriend and I were together for over 3 years. I knew that we were comfortable but not in “love the way it was meant to be”. I still talk to him as a friend but now I can’t remember what I saw in him romantically. As soon as I laid eyes on my current boyfriend I was crushed. It’s been almost 2 1/2 years and I am still head over heals.
I think when you find the one you just know. And your “one” was sent special delivery!
Oh Miss BC! You have such a wonderful story. Mr. BC seems like an awesome bear!
I love your story!!! You guys look like genuine fantastic people! I had to completely change my habits after dating a series of bad-for-me boys and ending up broke and tired. After I had “calmed down” for about 3 months, I met my FI. Who knew?
Such a sweet story. ^_^ Literally tugging on my heart strings right now.
Hellz yeah! I ended a 4 year relationship (that really needed to end!). It was sad, but my heart was gone long before my head told me to follow. I knew we just didn’t fit, but after 4 years, everyone tells you that you should get married. I was relieved once I broke it off though, and in the process met my FI, and the rest is history!
Miss Bear Cub, your story is a lot like mine! I was in a relationship with a guy for 3 years, and it was quickly sputtering out towards the end. It was pretty obvious it wouldn’t work. The crazy part was there was a guy that lived across the hall from me in the dorm that was a) an architecture student like me (sooooo sexy when your guy is interested in your same discipline) and b) a good friend to whom I talked about guy troubles. I always saw him as a brother-type (weird as that may seem). Well, it only took me 3 weeks to get over the ex because Boy Across the Hall is the most amazing person I have ever met (I felt this way before we became involved, as well).
@ darilinda: I never really thought of it before, but now I realize that when things aren’t going well in life, I lean on him as a friend more than a love interest. I guess friendship is a pretty good foundation to build upon.
@Kiley: friendship IS a good foundation to build upon! The book for the WB book club talks about this a lot. If you haven’t started reading it, you should! It’s a great book - very enlightening.
u r so lucky and blessed!
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Mrs. Cub, Chile/Portland
Age and Occupation: 26, Astronomer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Astronomer
Engagement Date: May 10, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009
Venue: Westwind YWCA camp
About Me: I'm a small-town girl who's making a living in Chile, with her heart in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Southern California, went to high school in Texas, grad school in New Mexico, and now I can't wait to settle down in Oregon! I love pears, hazelnuts,
knitting, traveling, running, baking, and long talks on the phone with
good friends. I'm planning my Oregon coast summer camp wedding while
abroad with my best friend - I'm always at home when I'm with him!
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