Right, I mean I was very happy being single so it was the whole. So you need to be happy in your own skin and your own life. That's the first thing. And I wanted, number one, a Christian man and downed out that I couldn't, I mean he had to be aligned politically. I think I feel that it's very important in our lives. And for me it was important that someone that's active likes to do things, like to get out and socialize and both fits that. Oh, he's also, which is so funny. I wanted a handyman. And he's quite a handyman on steroids. He's helping with my yard and my house and everything. And so that was like I couldn't believe how important that really is to me. Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so. This is American Potential. Hey, everyone, welcome to the American Potential Podcast. I'm your host David Fron. You know, some love stories start online, others with a simple conversation. The story we're sharing today started with volunteering. These two showed up to serve and ended up finding each other. While volunteering, they became friends, fell in love and then got married. And here's the part that makes stories even better. They're both in their 70s. So with Valentine's Day this weekend, we wanted to share a Valentine's story with you. I want to welcome Pat Bocca Sturk and Bow Bowling to the podcast. Pat Bow, thanks so much for joining us. I'm so glad that you're here. Thank you for having us, David. Good morning. Glad to be here. Yeah, well, we wanted to highlight your story because it's just fun. It's heartwarming. You know, we know each other from me spending some time in New Mexico. You guys are based out in Albuquerque and are kind of fixtures at the Albuquerque office. So he's helping and working and advancing freedom, you know, alongside our team there. And so I was like, oh, Valentine's Day, I know there's this great story in New Mexico that we should see what they want to talk about. I love that they found. I like to say love at the phone bank. Yes, right. Anyway, so Pat, just set it up. You grew up in Albuquerque in Mexico, right? And you know, maybe step back. How have you seen? Yeah, I have you seen Albuquerque change over the years you've lived there. Well, I was born and raised here, lived here for 40 years, moved up to Wyoming with there for 30 years, raised my kids there. And really saw going up in Albuquerque was wonderful. Just, just, I mean, we played out in the streets and didn't come home till the sun came down and walked to school every day. And it was just wonderful moving away and then coming back 30 years later. Oh my gosh, it was just heartbreaking what I saw. I mean, first thing you see is, is a lot of homelessness. Yeah. And the crime rate is high and the schools are not doing well at all. So, I mean, I just thought I need to do something about this. And long story short, I started getting involved with Americans for prosperity because they are boots on the ground. And that's what I find I like to do is relate to people and talk to people among one to one. How did you initially go as the first thing you did where you decided, hey, I'm going to come alongside Americans for prosperity and help them out? Well, the first thing I did was, was feed the homeless actually. And the more I got involved with them, I did that for about two years feeding them and clothing them. I got a New Mexico Dream Center got involved with them and realized that it's really our government that holds these people in poverty because of all the laws. I mean, they taught me a lot, actually. And so I thought, well, the way to really help is to get involved politically. And that's when I started getting involved in Americans for prosperity because they have a genuine care for the people and policies. Good policies. So I found that more I got involved with them. The more I agreed with their political stand and their policies. So that's how I got started, actually. So Bo, how did you come to being in American for the prosperity office? Well, I was invited by Pat. We went to the same Bible study group and I had seen her there and seen how friendly she was and that she loved people and loved working and trying to better New Mexico and the country. And we wound up not seeing each other for a while and then at church they had a biblical Constitutional class. And we met again and Pat invited me to the meeting at AFP, a Taco Tuesday. So I came over there and listened and learned and decided, yes, this is what I want to be doing too. I've always been political sometimes too much. But so wound up going to the phone banks and just enjoyed letting people know information, letting them know some truth and what's going on and that there are people that are trying to make America better again. And so what I hear you saying is that the pathway to love for you guys was tacos, the Constitution and volunteering with Americans for prosperity. That really brought us together there along with the Lord. But yeah, we just grew from there. We started spending a lot of time together and just fell in love. She's a very lovable person. She likes people. And so just been great knowing her. And then we decided one day I asked her to marry me. And that was on a we wanted to get married on Thanksgiving. It was a family family. That's fabulous. Something that we're super thankful for. Yes. All costly. Thankful. Yes. But well, the, I kind of think, you know, one of the things that strikes me is, well, you're totally right about Pat. I mean, I've known you better. I know you from being in the office and you're just a warm outgoing personality. And I, when I heard that you guys have fallen in love and we're getting married, I was so excited for you. I have seen your wedding video, by the way. It's a total thrill. Oh, maybe we can drop it in at some point. Yeah. But, um, so, but it's interesting. It's kind of sometimes wonder if, you know, when, when you go and volunteer for something like marriage and prosperity, you're really other organizations that are mission driven. You're kind of putting your heart out there a little bit, you know, like it, it's something has spurred you to help a fellow human being or seek connection through through mission churches are like this. Certainly too, right? And you may be even a deeper way. And it strikes me that you two, I wonder if like your hearts were out there because you met at church and part of an organization that's trying to, you know, work on values that you really, you value. You believe in. So I kind of, I wondered if it like sets you up a little like if you're set up that you're leaning in for love a little bit. Most definitely, um, what I have found is that, um, in, in meeting people, um, you know, you're trying to do different people, different personalities. And if they didn't align with me politically, I just couldn't, um, I mean, that's huge to me. It was just so huge to me. And, you know, I had met Bo through church and, um, and I thought he was a nice man. And when he came into the constitution class, I thought, is this guy political? And, uh, and he definitely, you know, I started talking with him after, after the meetings and we aligned perfectly. And so I just knew he'd be a perfect fit for America's for prosperity and invited him to phone banking. And that was every Tuesday and Thursday at the time. And, um, it gave us another opportunity to see each other. And the more we saw each other, the more we got involved with each other. And, um, that really sparked our interest and Americans for prosperity is so personalized too. They, they, when we got engaged, they gave us a little engagement party, which is really nice. I was agree. Yeah. Is that at the, at the, at the Albuquerque office on Central? Yeah, at the office in between phone calls. And, um, and everyone toasted and we had a cake and ice cream and balloons. And it was very fun. Yeah. It was so sweet. Oh, that's wonderful. Just a good group of people. All these volunteers that, uh, are just trying to improve the, the state and the country. You know, got to, people have got to get involved. Yeah. You know, I, I'm always struck when I meet groups of folks volunteering at different offices. I go to, um, they're all unique and they're all special in their own way. And like, but the, you know, it's a way that people build lasting friendships, not always lasting relationships or certainly marriages. But, um, I, you know, I, you guys are, uh, are top of the top of the food chain on that one. But, uh, I, I do think like it's really cool to be with, with people who care about our country or their community. And they're doing something to make a difference. I think it forges people together. What, you know, what do you, where are some of the issues that you've enjoyed working on with AFP? Well, we were, we were working on phone calling things like that and, and, and going door to door. And, um, we're working on, um, I think eight different candidates. We supported eight different candidates in New Mexico and Adi out of eight candidates. And, um, we were, we were doing, um, something positive. And so when you can see results like that, not only that, but Americans for prosperity, um, really makes you feel like the little family. We became a family, um, everyone there that, that volunteers, um, you see them, um, not just at the office, but out working and, um, getting involved in the community. And, um, we rely on each other for, um, for help in that respect. So, uh, that is pandas recruited quite a few volunteers from, from, uh, our group. And so we're together quite often with the others. Oh, yes. Yeah, that's right. So, to this day outside, Americans for prosperity, we get together, go to lunch and things like that. Yeah, so, so, well, so what just something a little bit of what's like, so you know, you, you've had live full lives before you met one another. But now you have this new like together in addition, like, what's it like? It's been great. It's been great not being alone and being with somebody that thinks the same way. So, um, and we, uh, also go from motorcycle rise in the Christian CMA, Christian motorcycle association. So, we're in, try to be involved in, in a lot of different areas. Yeah, we're finding out that we, we think so much alike it almost is. Yes. His, his, his, it's, it's kind of interesting kind of scary. We've only been married for about a year now and, um, and, uh, and Bo has said more than more times than not that we just think so much alike that sometimes that's the only thing that gets in our way of our relationship. But we do focus on, on, um, spreading the word, lower the words. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Is there any advice that you have for folks who are, uh, who either don't know if they'll find love or, uh, you know, are, are kind of at a different stage in life and China wonder like, hey, you know, is there a right person out there? I mean, we are talking about this on Valentine's Day. Right. I mean, I was very happy being single. So it was, so you, you need to be happy in your own skin and your own life. That's the first thing. And, um, and I, I wanted, uh, number one, a Christian man and found out that, um, I couldn't, I mean, he had to be aligned politically that I think I've feel that that's very important in our lives. And someone, uh, for me, it was important to someone that's active likes to do things like to get out and, um, and socialize and, um, both it's that, oh, he's also, uh, which is so funny. Funny. I, I wanted a handyman. And he, he's quite a handyman on steroids. He's helping with my yard and my house and everything. And so that was like, I couldn't believe how important that really is to me. So, um, I think above all, you need to, um, have a lot of, a lot of personality in common. Yeah. So some practical aspects to love. Look at the handyman. That was one of the first things I was looking for was a good Christian woman. Uh, that was political and we like to ride on the motorcycle. So everything's been really, really great. That's wonderful. I didn't even know the motorcycle was a thing really. And, and more, and, um, it's been a big part of both lives since he was, uh, gosh, a teenager. Yeah. Wow. Well, I mean, New Mexico is a wonderful place to ride a motorcycle. Man, good weather, beautiful, beautiful wide open spaces. Yeah, that's very fabulous. That's pretty much what brought me here. I was living in Las Vegas, Nevada, construction before I moved here. And so I was single for all of us see 15 years and just my dog and me. I was single for 22 years. It's just pretty amazing. Yeah. I'm so happy for you guys. So tell me a little bit about, uh, I guess that I seen video of your, of your wedding celebration. Um, maybe just tell me a little bit about like, you know, how'd that play out? Just seemed like such a joyous thing. I know some of the team members from AFP were there. You know, how, how did that kind of come to be? It was a little bit surprising it, uh, that, uh, such a big ado was made. It was just, uh, really heart, heartwarming to see everybody there. So happy for us and things. Yes. We, we decided just since we've, you know, been married before, spouses have passed away and, um, at considering our age, we didn't want anything really huge. Uh, I usually have the family, my family over for Thanksgiving and, um, my nephew, who's in his 50s, is a pastor. And so we asked him to marry us. So we got married between, uh, turkey and, and, uh, dessert, and dessert. I just was, uh, yeah, it was fun. Um, and actually we're babysitting for, um, uh, Bobby, Bobby's little dog, Bobby and Dennis's little dog. And, uh, and Sarah's dog and Sarah was, uh, Sarah's little dog just knew something was happening. So she come, he comes and follows me in the back while I get dressed, ready for the ceremony. And he follows me out, which I didn't realize he called me out. And he sits there right in front of the pastor. He's, he was my mate of honor. Oh, Sarah's little dog. Oh, sir, Lance a lot, the dog outgrade. Yes. Yes. Lance a lot. Little Lance was my, my mate of honor. That's wonderful. You can't, you can do any better. That's good. Well, I'm so happy for you guys. I mean, it's so cool to, uh, just your stories like this, you know, like loves always there for us. And, uh, you know, I, I think that the fact that like, you know, you really kind of rooted your lives and your faith and use that to kind of go and look for someone to share that with is, is wonderful. I guess as we kind of close out what, you know, you guys are both still really active volunteers, the Americans for prosperity. Uh, and you know, you've taken that step to try to get involved and make your communities and your nation better. Um, what would each of you say about like if someone was not sure whether they really wanted to get involved? What, how would you encourage them or what would you, what advice would you give them to taking that first step to go and get involved and work for their community? Give it a try and you'd be supplies the information we've been given through AFP is, it's just been amazing. We had a great, uh, speaker yesterday. Uh, and he really gave us the information for, for dealing with, uh, the issues going on at the Capitol and things and how to contact the senators and, you know, the Congress people. But it's just been, it's been a wealth of information. And, and that's what people will find. If they'll come and give it a try, come and listen a few times and, and just get involved. It's, it's, uh, it's habit forming. Once you start seeing that you can make a difference, it's, it's just great. Yes, Bobby runs the, the, the office and on the, um, volunteer side for Americans for prosperity and, um, again, she, she had a gathering yesterday that was very educational. And so they prepare you, you know, you find out more about, um, not just, you know, being thrown out there, um, cold. They, they, they train you up and they, they tell you exactly where we're at as a state, um, within the state and, and, and also compares to comparing to other states. So, um, it's quite informative. They, they do a good job at that. Well, I'm happy to hear it. I, you know, Bobby Curtis, you're, you're a good friend and, you know, are one of our engagement directors there and Avocork is just one of the best in the country. She's also one of the all-time best people. But she's just really so good at her job. She is such a, a heart for people and for, you know, fighting for our nation and her community. And it makes for a really good employee for Merfist prosperity. So she's, she's a, she's an engine and a force to be reckoned with. And you guys are key parts of her community. And I'm just so happy to, you know, that you guys can share your story with us that I haven't able to kind of watch some of it. It's, it's so fun. I'm so happy for you guys. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. We're, we're, we're waiting for Emeritus for prosperity for helping us together. Yes. Yeah. Yay. Hopefully, hopefully we'll make that happen more often. We'll get a lot more, a lot more activists, I guess. Yes. We're planning on it on our radar for sure. I'm, I'm, I'm, Calon Borg. Thank you, David. You have a great day. You too. Have a mouth out of the safe. Thank you. Well, hey folks, if you liked this episode and would like to stay connected with the podcast, be sure to like and subscribe to our channel as well as following us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Always remember, Liberty and Freedom are easily taken for granted. Don't take them for granted. Go out there and defend Freedom and Liberty. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to American Potential. You may listen to more stories from Americans working every day to expand freedom and opportunity in their communities by visiting Americanpotential.com.
