Warning: this has only a little bit to do with veganism. It’s just a fun human interest Valentine’s Day story, I suppose! If you like mmorpgs and surprise romantic endings, then you will find it amusing – otherwise the jargon might put you to sleep!
Vegan Muscle and Fitness began as a twinkle in our computer-bleary eyes nearly seven years ago, as our anniversary approaches this February 15th. We weren’t always vegan health icons – ohhhh no. So much that exists today, from this blog to a certain human being named Miles, began when a couple of Alliance guilds began dominating the PVP (player vs player) battlegrounds of a certain World of Warcraft realm called ‘Kul Tiras’. Back when Derek and I were lazy college students playing video games 18+ hours a day and living on Oreos and frozen french fries. Well I was, anyway. (Cue Wayne’s World flashback)….
This was way back in the mists of Warcraft antiquity when to rank up one had to actually win honor through fighting other players, there were no battleground instance drops, there was no cross-realm pvp, and the only way to get epics was to run instances. So it was a serious matter when Malevolence and Broken Empire, Alliance guilds that had the manpower to run big instances and get epic drops, started setting up pre-mades that kept us poor disorganized, non-instance-running Hordies cowering in the flag room of Warsong Gulch.
A few of us, PVP legends in our own time (ahem) got together and hatched a plan to gather the best of the best into one uber pre-made battleground group, with inclusion by invitation only, and the rest was history. I, a young troll shadow priest by the name of Eiryn, recalled hearing a certain troll rogue by the name of TREESIZE on battleground chat entreating others to ninja the towers with him in Alterac Valley. So, when he asked to get in, I said “Absolutely!” And the rest is history! We swept on to victory, gaining Warlord status and many high jinks ensued.
So anyway, eventually, after many Warcraft chat debates (mainly about veganism as I’d been vegan for 7-8 years and Derek had never heard of it) we started arguing via phone! Talk about worlds colliding! We would never have crossed paths in the natural order of things…me a 24-year-old hipster and Derek a fresh-scrubbed 18-year-old jock! Seriously, look at this:
After some time spent racking up hundreds of dollars in phone bills, exchanging vegan goodies via mail, and taking WoW by storm, Derek flew from California to meet me in person at a vegetarian cafe in Virginia on February 15th. And then…we left our hometowns to move to Seattle together…moved back across the country…bought a house…got married…started our business…had a child…phew. And here we are today! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEREK!
Probably wouldn’t remember me, I played a female human mage name Arthenia in Broken Empire, formerly Obscurite.
I had to quit June 6, due to my parents and then gave my account to the guild. A guy by the name of Cokeman took over the Arthenia account and eventually got it banned.
I remember the name Athenia! Sorry you lost the account 🙁
Great story! I met my wife online as well; we met on Yahoo! chat when we were both in high school. I actually came across this article searching for things related to Kul Tiras because I used to play there, too. I was in Malevolence and I was the one that started and lead those premade groups with Broken Empire lol. My character’s name was Antihero.
Wow, we both definitely remember you – the night elf rogue!
Marcella, I’ve been a fan of yours and Derek’s for a long time. You guys amaze me not only as fitness professionals and writers, but as people. Your story is so inspiring, because if you look it at from a distance, it almost makes no sense.
(1) You lived in entirely different parts of the country.
(2) You’re 6 years older (usually it tends to be the guy that’s older – I like older women, so it’s frustrating!).
(3) You were vegan, he was not. And the “jock” stereotype is not to be open-minded about things like compassion.
(4) You met online.
Yet it works. Reading your articles on raising Miles, you seem like a great mother. And seeing how Derek interacts with Miles (in the pictures I’ve seen), he looks like such a loving father. You two seem so in love, so happy together.
Your story is incredibly inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing it. This blog is perfect for vegans, fitness enthusiasts, and romantics. 😀
Awww! Thank you for your comment! Yes, open-mindedness was key (and so unexpected). The fact that Derek was willing to re-evaluate his views given new information is what really got my attention – such a rare trait, and it’s really at the root of all intelligence and ethics, isn’t it?
Congratulations, a beautiful story and thanks for sharing!
I love your story on how you met! My fiancé and I met via Instagram. He lived in south Florida and I lived in Portland Oregon. We talked for hours everyday and mailed each other vegan care packages. Finally, he flew to Portland to meet me. And the rest was history! We packed our bags and headed to Huntsville, Alabama where we currently reside with our son. We are getting married this year. We work out together and live a great vegan lifestyle together.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your story! I always hear people lament that it’s impossible to be vegan because they can’t date or, if they’re already vegan, that they can’t meet anyone but we’re proof that it can forge bonds from afar!