Tamiru & Selam | A Living Memoir

Two Hearts, One Journey

Building a Life, Hand in Hand.

We started our journey almost two decades ago, though it began not with love at first sight, but with a quiet, slow-burning realization. In the early 2000s by the university fence, she didn't even notice me. Ironically, spotting her in the crowd was initially just my mental clock to gauge if I was on time to see someone else! Yet, over the months, she stayed on my radar. Those distant, passing glimpses slowly captured my attention until she was the only one I was looking for. It took years of casual, unexpected encounters before a proper conversation finally unfolded and I got her phone number. Since those beautifully humble beginnings, we’ve navigated long-distance love, career transitions, raising three children, returning home to Ethiopia, and building our future together.

The Things We Cherish Most:

A simple life.
Intentional communication.
Choosing positivity and avoid conflict at any cost.
Conscious parenting and mindfulness
Resilience, compassion, gratitude.

The Timeline

Chapters of Our Life

2000 to 2008 : The Ethiopian Chapter

Roots of Our Love

From silent glances across the university fence to our sweet weekends in Wondo Genet and our wedding in 2008 — we built our foundation with simple joys and patience.

Our Lesson: Real love often starts quietly and grows with time.

2008 to 2016 : The American Chapter

Love Across Oceans

Long distance, single parenting, and chasing dreams in a new country tested us deeply. Navigating career transitions and the grind of residency studies, we actively chose "us" over comfort.

Our Lesson: Distance doesn't break strong hearts - it reveals them.

2016 to 2025 : The Return Chapter

Home and Rebirth

We came back to Ethiopia, restarted together, welcomed two more daughters, and found deeper faith. Bringing the journey full circle to raise our children where our roots began.

Our Lesson: Sometimes going back is the best way to move forward.

2025 to date : The Pride Chapter

Present and Legacy

Having learned that constant chasing can lead to burnout, we now choose a path rooted in God's will and the legacy of Pride AI. Our focus is intentionality and peace.

Our Lesson: Real success is measured by how fully we live and love in the present.

The 2009 Foundation

Long before the convenience of modern video calls, our connection was sustained by the written word. Communication and unwavering trust became the absolute cornerstones of our relationship as we navigated life across oceans. In the quiet moments of 2009, we made profound promises to each other through simple Yahoo emails—commitments to choose "us" over comfort, and to never let distance dictate our destiny. These letters were not just updates; they were the blueprint of the life we were building together.

Click to View the Original Letter →

❤ The Original Soundtrack

A Song for Selam

Written, composed, and dedicated with love, by Tamiru.

COMPOSED BY TAMIRU

Sing With Me

18 YEARS

A quiet glance across a university fence
Two young hearts, no money, just pure intent
From Wondo Genet weekends under the sun
To long-distance love when the oceans had won

We’re still holding on, not because we’ve arrived
But through every storm, our promise survived
This is long-form love, the harder road we chose
Through tears and distance, our commitment only grows
Still holding on… still holding on

From Iowa snow to Addis Ababa rain
You carried our son while I fought through the pain
2009 letters kept my hope alive
Your strength and your grace helped this family survive

Now we build Pride AI with open hands
Raising three children on faith and solid plans
No perfect story, but a real one we stand
Hand in hand, heart to heart, by God’s grace we still stand

We’re still holding on… through it all
Not at the summit, but answering the call
One day at a time, no regret, no fear
The foundation is strong…
We’re still here… still holding on.

The Story Behind The Song

"This anthem is more than music - it is a living time capsule of our love story. It reminds us that our foundation remains unbroken, even as our journey continues to unfold. It carries the quiet vows we made across oceans, the miles that once separated us, and the beautiful family that ultimately brought us home."

The creation of this song was itself a meaningful chapter. Earlier, while exploring the multimodal capabilities of Google’s Gemini, I created a short 30-second piece for our venture, Pride AI. Then, in early 2026, I was deeply inspired by NVIDIA’s GTC keynote, where Jensen Huang’s two-hour address was beautifully complemented by a 3-minute AI-generated music video recap. Just days after Google announced Lyria Pro 3 - which enabled high-quality, long-form music generation up to three minutes with rich structure - the timing felt perfect.

These moments became the ideal recipe. As I began building this digital memoir for Selam and our family, I set out to compose something deeply personal. Through intention, iteration, and the joy of creation, this anthem emerged. It blends technology with heart - a testament to how tools can help us preserve what matters most.

Her Extraordinary Sacrifice.

During our time in the US, Selamsha devoted herself entirely to our family - raising our child, supporting me unconditionally, and pursuing her hard-fought medical career with relentless dedication. She studied with fierce focus for her USMLE, earned her ECFMG Certification, and secured residency interviews, all while we took very few vacations and remained fully absorbed in our shared goals.

Then, in 2016, after a period of deep burnout, I made the decision to bring our family back home. It was a testing moment - especially because, at that time, while the world was flocking to the US in search of refuge, I felt my life was at risk there. (Call it delusion or whatever else you may...)

What happened next continues to humble me to this day. Despite being on the verge of launching her own promising medical career, Selamsha trusted me completely. She stood by my side without hesitation or question - one of the most extraordinary acts of love I have ever witnessed.

"She keeps telling me why I even consider that as sacrifice as she strongly beleived that is what families should normally do for the union. But every time I reflect on that period, I am overwhelmed with profound gratitude and a deep sense of indebtedness. May God grant me the grace to repay her sacrifice abundantly. Amen."

- Tamiru

The Visual Journey

Click to Expand →

Quiet moments of love in our early days

Engagement Day

Conscious parenting in our small beginnings

The long-awaited reunion - 2012

Reconnecting felt like a new beginning

Our humble beginning in America

Joy in simple adventures together

Making memories in Washington D.C.

Our first big adventure together in Washington D.C.

Christmas lights and new hope

First snow and pure wonder

Fun with Snow

My Victoria at Borders before demolition

Get together at Ohio

Exploring New York together

At Cheese Cake Factory before demolition

Dreaming and planning our next chapter

Family road trips and laughter

Business Routine

Beautiful chaos of family life

Family Holiday Vibe

Family checking on Meskel after Renovation

Proud moments with our firstborn

New Year Vibe 2024

Creating memories back home in Ethiopia

Celebraing Michael and Birthday

“

A Unique Tradition

The Day I Became My Own Shimagile

How My Father-in-Law Rewrote the Rules

In Ethiopian culture, marriage begins long before the wedding. We send respected elders - our Shimagile's (Mediators) - to the bride’s family to formally ask for her hand, face their questions, and earn their blessing. It’s a sacred step, rooted in wisdom and respect.

But my wife’s father (Dr. Tilahun Teklu) had other ideas. Holding a PhD in organizational behavior and having extensive experience in bank governance as a board member, he respectfully challenged the norm. “With all due respect to the elders and our tradition,” he said, “instead of learning about him through outsiders, I would rather have an honest, direct conversation with him in a modern way.” Instead of receiving a traditional delegation of elders, I was given a formal appointment date to show up myself.

So I went alone on that appointed date. That afternoon unfolded into something far deeper than tradition. Instead of rigid interrogations or formal speeches, we engaged in a genuine, open dialogue - speaking with profound mutual respect. We discussed life, core values, and yes, even banking. By the end, he looked at me and said, “I wanted to speak to you directly so I could understand your heart, and share my hopes for my daughter and for you. That’s why I chose to break the cycle.”

It was unusual. It was bold. And it was perfect. My respect for him doubled. That single conversation taught me more about what real family means than any traditional ceremony could have. Tradition has its place - but sometimes, courage and honesty create something even more meaningful.

A Note of Gratitude to Families and Networks

"18 years is a milestone we did not reach alone. First and foremost, we thank God for the grace, patience, and love that has sustained our family through every season. We are profoundly grateful for our three beautiful children who teach us how to love deeper every day. And to our extended family, friends and personal and professional network—thank you for being part of our story and the support."

With All Our Love,
Tamiru & Selam (Dr.)

A Letter to the Future

To Our Greatest Legacy

Dearest Eyosi, Hasset, and Mina,
Before the degrees and the milestones, there were just two young people making quiet promises across an ocean. Whatever paths you walk, carry our foundation with you: intentional communication, deep faith, and always choosing peace. Our greatest accomplishment will always be the family we created in you.

With infinite love,
Mom & Dad

Tamiru &
Selam (Dr.)

Since Our Engagement.

Building a Life, Hand in Hand.