MEET THE MELLOS
Jamel & Aisha Mello
IF YOU’RE EXPECTING ONE OF THOSE ‘HAPPILY EVER AFTER’ ‘BEST MAN MARRIES THE MAID OF HONOR’ TYPE STORIES….. WELL MY FRIENDS, YOU’RE IN LUCK! THAT’S ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED. OUR JOURNEY STARTED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO WHILE ATTENDING A DESTINATION WEDDING IN THE MAGICAL ISLAND OF BAHAMAS. OUR BEST FRIENDS HAD CHOSEN US TO STAND BY THEIR SIDE AS THEY ENTERED THE BONDS OF MARRIAGE. EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THE SAME PEOPLE, CIRCUMSTANCES LED TO THE TWO OF US, NEVER HAVING MET BEFORE, HAVING TO SPEND FOUR HOURS ALONE WITH JUST EACH OTHER IN BETWEEN THE WEDDING AND THE AFTER PARTY. LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT THOSE FOUR HOURS WOULD TURN INTO FOUR DAYS WHICH WOULD TURN INTO OUR FOREVER.
JAMEL'S JOURNEY
Relationship Coach
The day I met Aisha was the day I realized the beginning of my lifelong dream of finding someone to build a life with. I’d had my pre-conceived ideas of what love was but the connection I felt that day changed me forever. I knew that she was the one. I would do anything to feel that way every day. My path was clear and I committed to moving to New York to be with her. One year later our story truly began.
We were young and drunk with love but we had a lot to learn about relationships and we did it together. Both of us being Only children meant that we understood each other in ways others couldn’t. She completed me and made me want be a better man, friend and Husband. Along the way our friends would always ask for advice and consults on their relationships, all of them remarking on how easy we made it seem.
Aisha and I realized we had a gift. A method of communicating clearly with each other that truly was easy. The Habits that we had consciously/ sub-consciously created were effective. Those same habits have kept our marriage strong for over twenty years and three kids. Together we learned that Even through Life’s rough spots Love doesn’t have to be hard.
AISHA'S JOURNEY
Relationship Coach
Meeting someone new was the last thing on my mind. Which is actually funny because I was notorious for constantly looking for signs of “He’s the One!” on a regular basis. I have to admit…. was kind of fun and exciting at times. Especially being a working actress in New York City living my not quite ‘Sex in the City’ lifestyle.
Of course I was late for the wedding….. only because I was “dating” a guy who gave me a buddy pass and there were so many stipulations I was unaware of. Well that sure made me feel guilty……(which part).Anyway being the ‘ Maid of Honor’ this presented a huge problem…..So after crying the entire two flights and changing in the tiny airport bathroom stall, I finally arrived an hour and a half late to my oldest friend’s wedding at Sandal’s Resort in the beautiful island of the Bahamas. It was the last minutes of the wedding toasts. I’d missed everything!
Or did I? Actually there was a wedding dinner in 4 hours and I’d no plans or reservations of any kind…. anywhere. My busy audition schedule in NYC left me feeling anxious and I had planned to crash on someone’s couch and leave the next morning. So the bride said “You should hang out with Jookie until the dinner.” and I said “Jookie, the band?” Her look of confusion still makes me smile to this day. I mean when your name is Jamel Mello, why would you be nicknamed ‘Jookie’? In truth, every time she said “the groom was going to see Jookie” I thought it was a reggae band that happened to be performing in the Bahamas at that time. Let’s just say…I was mighty and oh so pleasantly surprised when this man named Jamel Mello walked into my life….I must say I didn’t really breathe him in until we were alone waiting for the taxi to take us back to his hotel for a few hours…..