Our Story

Marisa
Marisa grew up in New Mexico, started college in Texas (Texas A&M Whoop!), but finished her bachelor of science in biochemistry in New Mexico (UNM ehh). She works at UNM as a Research Technician. She keeps the laboratory organized, helps train graduate students, performs many experiments, and does most of the mouse work. Right now, she's just finished a course, EMT-basic, because she thinks she wants to work in the clinical aspect of medicine, but she's not sure at what level (probably teaching--that's what she leans toward). Paul and Marisa have a very adorable six year old dog, Charlie, a black lab X cocker.

Paul
Paul grew up in Albuquerque, also. He graduated from UNM with a bachelor of science in Biochemistry, also. Paul had the science bug for a long time, and he was very good at research. He decided, though, that he likes people too much to ignore socioeconomic problems seen in medicine in the world. He plans to apply to medical school and would like to provide medical care for poor people, internationally. He plays hockey, but he still has all his teeth. He's known in the league for wearing a mullet.

How We Met
Paul and Marisa met in 1993 when Marisa started high school at Menaul School (he was already a sophomore). Marisa was in his geometry class (we call it "his" because Marisa started later). They weren't friends. Marisa took Paul's place as the "smartest kid in the class", so there was a bit of a conflict between them revolving this throughout my time at Menaul. As soon as Marisa transferred from Menaul, her junior year, though, Paul decided he really liked Marisa ("sorta" says Paulzie). When Paul started college, Marisa was still in high school in Pearland, Texas.

About Our Proposal
9/1/2005
Well, it all started one cool evening, Marisa's 25th birthday. Paul insisted that Marisa could hang out with her friends some other night to celebrate. He suggested that since it was a Thursday, and all the friends work, they should just spend the time together....maybe driving to "the crest" (Sandia Crest).

Well, Paul was able to convince Marisa that it was an okay idea. Paul worked a 7 to 7 that day, so Marisa drove... It takes quite awhile to drive to the "peak" (of the crest). They drove and chatted and drove and chatted, then the car stopped! Longer story shorter: a man drove up as they were sitting by the side of the rode and used his headlights to look with Paul at the engine. Marisa stuck head out the window long enough to hear the man ask, "so, do you all need a ride into town? It's only a few more miles to the top and I'm not sure if there'll be more passer byers." Paul said, "No, thank you anyway."

WHAT!!!???!!! you say?

"What?" was exactly what Marisa was thinking.....and maybe even saying, too....we don't remember.

Paul had a plan up his sleeve, though. Paul and Marisa often frequented the crest with groups of friends in the middle of the night with 40s of malt liquor....mostly "for their homies", don't worry....and one recent night, they'd been require to read haikus to one another.....

So.....Paul asked Marisa to stand in the light of the headlights while he read her some homemade haikus from the heart. The last haiku had the 5 syllable phrase "will you marry me" and a ring slowly emerged from his coat pocket.

It doesn't matter that the ring box was upside down, Marisa said yes....and ever since that moment, Marisa and Paul have not rested.

Since we are trying to save our parents the most money possible and still have the wedding we want...we have been landscaping the yard, making our invitations from scratch, designing wedding dresses, and downloading a wedding playlists to mention a few. But we have not done this all alone...we have invested in the blood, sweat, and tears of Hai, Will, Nick, Sayward, Marco, Dave, and Nichole. We couldn't have done this without them and we are very grateful!