Ruth Miriam Waks Ruth Miriam Waks sprang upon the world on May 21, 1968 in Princeton, New Jersey. She was right on time--for the first and only time in her life. Ruth joined her brother Mark and parents Lee and David to round out the Waks household. After her parents divorced, Ruth's family expanded to include her step-mother Sandy, an older step-sister, Allison, and younger step-brother, Michael. Ruth's early years were filled with rides in her Dad's Mercedes-Benz convertible, and days at Miss Mason's Elementary School. After moving with her mother and brother Mark to Hopewell, NJ in 4th grade, she went to Hopewell Valley Elementary School, and after a period of adjustment from private to public schools she quickly progressed to Timberlane Middle School and then Hopewell Valley Central High School. After high school, she went to Pennsylvania State University for a few years, took some time off, and moved to Arizona. After realizing that she had better finish her education, she went to Arizona State University from which she graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1996. Ruth avoided computers like the plague when she was young, refusing to be just like her father and her older brother. But, it seemed to be unavoidable, for after she took her first programming class in high school, she realized she was hooked. Knowing from her father and brother's experience that you can make money programming computers, she continued with it right through college (both times). Degree in hand, Ruth ventured to Silicon Valley and Hewlett-Packard where she met Jeremy Ford Bennett her first day of work. Ruth is still working for HP, now venturing into Project Management. When not in front of a computer, Ruth enjoys reading contemporary fiction, cooking, tasting wines, watching Jeremy play roller hockey, and going for walks with Jeremy and their dog Tasha. At the end of the day, she likes to cuddle up with Jeremy on the couch with a good movie.

Jeremy Ford Bennett Jeremy ventured into this world of noise and confusion about ten o'clock on November 2, 1972 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was late, of course. Jeremy joined two sisters, Amy and Leslie, and parents Lee and Virginia to round out the Bennett household. After spending the first few years in and out of eye surgeries he got his first pair of glasses and found a whole new depth of things to explore, question, and analyze...He's still going! Jeremy's early years were filled with trips in the little red wagon, stories of Barkey the Skrang and Hill Elementary School. After a slow start and the discovery of large print books he quickly progressed to Larson Middle School and then Athens High School. Finally, tasked with upholding the family legacy, he went to the University of Michigan from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1995. Jeremy has always loved computers, in 1978 Jeremy found CP/M, in 1980 he found DOS (it was neat at the time), in 1984 he found Macintosh (life was good), in 1991 he found both Unix and the Internet and life was fun! 1991 was also the year that he discovered you can make money programming computers, oh happy day! The epiphany struck when Jeremy realized, in 1993 that you can get a college degree in computer science; and besides, chemistry and physics were too much work. Degree in hand, Jeremy ventured to the Silicon Valley and Hewlett-Packard where he worked for four years and met the love of his life, Ruth Miriam Waks. Now Jeremy has discovered that he can make money writing game software at SegaSoft. When not in front of a computer (or a DreamCast), Jeremy enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy books, cooking, tasting wines, playing roller hockey and going for walks with Ruth and their dog Tasha. Now, if only he could manage to do this all in one day!

How We Met and Fell in Love

Ruth and Jeremy met on Ruth's first day of work. Jeremy was given the task of giving an overview of HP's directory services. How romantic! Noticing Ruth was new to the area Jeremy's friend Catherine Costas took pity on her and invited her to watch the Sunday roller hockey gang in the Netscape parking lot. After the games Ruth, Jeremy, and the hockey gang bonded at the St. James Infirmary (a local bar) over hot wings and beer. Following this social introduction Jeremy, Ruth and Jeremy's college pal Brian Kuhn started hanging out regularly.

After many parties and get togethers Ruth and Jeremy found themselves talking until the wee hours of the morning. Ruth's ongoing denial of her feelings towards Jeremy ended during a conversation with a friend who accused her of being in love. Realizing her friend was correct Ruth, in her usual style, took the issue head on. She invited Jeremy out to dinner and told him how she felt. Jeremy, in his usual style, didn't want to think about a relationship.

At 4 am Sunday morning the next weekend, Ruth and Jeremy were having another long talk after a party. Jeremy confessed he could do nothing but think about a relationship with Ruth. They kissed...and so it began.

On a lovely Saturday, March 13th, 1999, Ruth suggested a nice walk along the creek side path near their home. Jeremy recognized this as a perfect opportunity to present the ring that had been burning a hole in his pocket for the past few days. Narrowly escaping a potentially hazardous change in plans ("No, we should not go to the mall instead!") the couple went out for a stroll with their dog, Tasha. Beneath a shady tree, next to a babbling brook, as Dog was his witness, Jeremy, upon bended knee, presented Ruth with the ring and the Question. After the initial "Oh my God!" she said yes!