It was May 26th, 2018.

I, Bear, was sitting in a volunteer check in room at a convention, when I saw Zach, Puppy, standing outside the room through the glass wall. Puppy was volunteering on the same shift, but for a different job at the convention, and I thought “He is Cute”! My gaze caught Puppy’s eye and he began to look around thinking I must be looking at someone else, when I finally said “Yes, You”. We began our conversations.

Puppy, a Museum Curator, was working a couple of part time jobs until a good full time opportunity came along, and he was single. I was working as an invoice auditor for a logistics brokerage firm, in an office in Chicago. Being polyamorous, I had a boyfriend I lived with at home, who is now my ex, though we all remain friends. We struggled at first to make a date happen, life was complicated for Puppy, who had a family member at home being cared for. But eventually when this Bear and Puppy got together, the sparks flew.

After several months of dating, I asked him to be my boyfriend making our relationship official as partners in November of 2018. Through some common, and not so common, trials along the way, we eventually became more and decided we wanted to live together. The winds of change blew fast and strong, with Bear moving in with Puppy in Aurora, IL in November of 2019. We had an amazing Holiday season and by the end of it, I was ready to get down on my knee and ask Puppy to be my husband. So, on December 28th, 2019 I did just that.

We attended the Morton Arboretum Tree Lights “Illuminations” event and near the end of the walk, with many of Puppy’s family and friends surrounding us, I asked or his hand in marriage. Without hesitation, he accepted and we have since begun to plan our future together. Saving for our wedding, May of 2021, and building this site to share our journey.

Without Puppy in my life, I can confidently say, I would not be the man I am right now. He has taught me what true unconditional love is, as has his family. I am so fortunate and grateful to have him with me today.

Puppy, Zachary, is a published Author with a book coming out this month, you can find more at zacharyrbishop.com.

I hope you will all enjoy,

Bear