The One With GuruPrem and Simran Khalsa

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The One With GuruPrem and Simran Khalsa" | For Love and Chocolate

Released on March 5, 2025

Hosts: Tommy and Tara Gallop (Mr. and Mrs. Truffles)

Guests: Herb and Minerva Snufflegart; Simran and Guru Prem Khalsa

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I. Warm Welcome and Mother's Day Celebrations ([00:12] – [03:39])

The episode kicks off with Mr. and Mrs. Truffles warmly welcoming listeners back to the "For Love and Chocolate" podcast. As Mother's Day approaches, the hosts shift the conversation from romantic love to the profound love of mothers and caregivers.

• Mrs. Truffles emphasizes, “Every woman is such a little caretaker in her own way, and it's a beautiful time” ([01:07]).

• The store has been bustling with Mother's Day preparations, with customers sharing heartfelt stories about their moms and grandmas. The hosts encourage listeners to visit their website to leave messages and share their own stories, promising a sweet reward for participation.

• Mr. Truffles adds, “We just want to celebrate you guys” ([01:35]).

II. Special Guests Introduction: Herb and Minerva Snufflegart ([04:07] – [07:31])

Herb and Minerva Snufflegart, a couple married for 80 years, join the show to offer their seasoned perspectives on relationships. Their longevity in marriage positions them as relationship experts, much to the delight of the hosts.

• Mr. Truffles introduces them, “If you've been married for 80 years, you're definitely an expert in something” ([04:25]).

• Mrs. Truffles corrects the duration, highlighting their longevity and wisdom.

III. Listener Questions: Relationship Advice from Herb and Minerva ([05:16] – [07:31])

Listeners send in questions seeking relationship advice, which Herb and Minerva address with their unique blend of humor and wisdom.

1. Mary's Concern About Tracking Device ([05:16] – [06:10]):

   • Mary discovers her husband has put a tracking device on her phone and seeks advice.
   • Herb recalls their dog Chester’s tracking prowess, subtly suggesting trust and understanding: “He could track a butterfly onto a baby's bottom” ([05:43]).
   • Mrs. Truffles responds, “That was very sound advice” ([06:10]).

2. Jenny's Streaming Services Obsession ([06:21] – [07:31]):

   • Jenny feels neglected as her husband obsesses over streaming old TV shows.
   • Minerva and Herb share their own experiences, emphasizing communication and shared activities.
   • Mrs. Truffles commends their insights, stating, “That was very good advice” ([07:29]).

IV. Introducing Main Guests: Simran and Guru Prem Khalsa ([07:44] – [09:50])

Transitioning from the seasoned couple, the hosts introduce their main guests, Simran and Guru Prem Khalsa, who bring a fresh and inspiring love story to the table. Married since 1990, they are both breath, posture, and divine alignment specialists, yoga teachers, trainers, and coaches.

• Mr. Truffles highlights their expertise and anticipates a captivating narrative: “We cannot wait for you to hear their beautiful story of romance and adventure” ([07:51]).

V. Simran and Guru Prem's Love Story ([09:55] – [35:18])

A. Meeting and Arranged Marriage ([10:00] – [12:50])

Simran and Guru Prem's story begins with an arranged marriage, a concept familiar yet unconventional in their context.

• Herb reminisces about the initial meeting, noting Guru Prem’s service-oriented nature: “He was doing service outside of the temple... he might make a good husband for my daughter” ([11:11]).

• Minerva discusses her initial reservations and the spiritual guidance that led to the union: “It was an act of faith... I'm going to have to just let a greater spirit guide this” ([13:19]).

B. The Unconventional Double Wedding in New Mexico ([15:01] – [17:43])

The couple shares the whirlwind romance that swiftly led to their marriage within six weeks, culminating in a grand double wedding in Taos, New Mexico.

• Minerva describes the ceremony: “A very typical Sikh wedding... circumnavigate the Sikh scriptures... bringing the two bodies becoming one soul” ([19:49]).

• Herb reminisces about the vibrant celebration, “I loved my princess dress... it really was a gorgeous day” ([20:26]).

• Mrs. Truffles marvels, “That was the sort of thing that little girls dream of doing” ([16:57]).

C. Building a Lasting Relationship ([17:45] – [28:46])

Simran and Guru Prem delve into the foundations of their enduring marriage, emphasizing mutual respect, personal space, and shared adventures.

• Mr. Truffles observes, “Love and trust doesn't just happen because you're married. It takes work, it takes respect, it takes love” ([28:07]).

• They discuss their dynamic, where both partners maintain their individuality while staying connected: “We do a lot of things together... but we're also totally fine if somebody decides to read a book rather than talk to the other” ([27:26]).

• Minerva shares their philosophy: “We have never fought in our 34 years” ([26:15]).

D. Heartwarming Stories of Gift-Giving and Anniversary Celebrations ([28:54] – [35:18])

The couple recounts memorable moments of gift-giving that reflect their deep understanding and love for each other.

• Minerva narrates receiving a Porsche from Herb: “She decided what I needed was a Martin guitar... I kept it for almost 10 years until the engine blew up” ([29:54]).

• Herb discusses orchestrating a surprise piano gift, emphasizing the emotional significance over the material value: “It's about what the person feels and what they do with it” ([33:14]).

• Their story highlights the importance of thoughtful gifts that resonate personally and strengthen their bond.

VI. Closing Reflections and Mantra ([35:18] – [40:08])

As the episode concludes, the hosts reflect on the inspiring narratives shared by their guests, underscoring themes of faith, mutual respect, and the adventurous spirit that fuels enduring love.

• Mrs. Truffles comments, “That was an extraordinary origin story... a little more magical” ([39:55]).

• The couple shares a heartfelt mantra, reinforcing their commitment to love and unity:

  “From one vibration the world came to be... carry it on, carry it on... a song of love” ([35:18]).

• Mr. Truffles and Mrs. Truffles express gratitude to the guests, highlighting the beauty of hearing different love stories and the lessons they offer to listeners.

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Notable Quotes

• Mrs. Truffles: “Every woman is such a little caretaker in her own way, and it's a beautiful time” ([01:07]).
• Mr. Truffles: “Love and trust doesn't just happen because you're married. It takes work, it takes respect, it takes love” ([28:07]).
• Minerva: “We have never fought in our 34 years” ([26:15]).
• Herb: “It's about what the person feels and what they do with it” ([33:14]).

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Final Thoughts

This episode of "For Love and Chocolate" weaves together heartfelt celebrations of Mother's Day with profound insights into enduring relationships. Through the wisdom of Herb and Minerva Snufflegart and the inspiring love story of Simran and Guru Prem Khalsa, listeners are treated to a rich tapestry of love's many facets. The hosts skillfully blend personal anecdotes, expert advice, and touching narratives, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration in their own romantic journeys.

Transcript

[Mr. Truffles]

From deep in the heart of Beverly Hills, you found for love and chocolate with Mr. And Mrs. Truffles. Well, welcome back to the podcast.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Welcome back. It's so nice to have you here with us today.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, it always is.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, it's been a really interesting start to the week, hasn't it?

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yes, it has, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, you seem a little starstruck today.

[Mr. Truffles]

Do I?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Is there something you want to tell me?

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, Mrs. Truffles, we just had. We had a customer come in the other day.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

She was.

[Mr. Truffles]

She was lovely. And yes, maybe she was kind of a big.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Kind of a wonder woman.

[Herb Snufflegart]

She.

[Mr. Truffles]

She was kind of a wonder woman. She was. And you know what's really so wonderful about her is that she's a mother of four.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, I think that's the real thing that makes her wonder woman.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. She's a side. From her beauty and strength.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. And her Israeli accent, all those things. She's lovely. But mother of four, isn't that crazy?

[Mrs. Truffles]

That is so fantastic. Yes. There's been a bit of a bustle. The shop this week. That's right. Next weekend is Mother's Day.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's Mother's Day.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We talk a lot about romantic love on the show, but there's another kind of love, and I'm not talking about puppy love.

[Mr. Truffles]

No, it's mother's love.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The love of a mother.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. It's special. And, you know, whether you're celebrating your mother, whether you're celebrating a sister, an aunt, a friend.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, it's a wonderful time to be acknowledging mommies. You know, every woman is such a little caretaker in her own way, and it's a beautiful time, and a lot of people come into the store and share their sweet stories about their moms and their grandmas. And a lot of them are longtime toyshore fans.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, my goodness.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They really are.

[Mr. Truffles]

And listen, I don't want to spoil the surprise, but there might be three puppies at home that have put together a little something for you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The dogs got me something.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, first of all, they sent me on some errands.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They made me something.

[Mr. Truffles]

They made you something? They sent me out to the arts and crafts shop. They had very specific instructions about the type of paint and the colors of paint they wanted, and did they make a big mess? They made such a mess.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You did clean it up?

[Mr. Truffles]

I did my best. Anyway, they're very excited to share their little Mother's Day surprise with you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, I can't wait. You know, mother's day is such a special day, you know, for her. Us moms, we get so many beautiful little gifts and messages from our children and from our friends and family. It feels so good to be acknowledged.

[Mr. Truffles]

We just want to celebrate you guys.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you know, and at the podcast here, we like to get messages as well.

[Mr. Truffles]

We do. We do. And if you visit us at our website at fourloveandchocolatepodcast.com, not only can you see a beautiful slideshow of all of our past couples, but also you can leave us a message.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes, you could. You could leave us a little letter there and, you know, tell us what you think of the show, give us some of your romance questions or. Or thoughts and. Or share a story with us.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. And if we use it on the show, we will send you a little box of chocolate. Courtesy of Mr. And Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, courtesy of Mr. And Mrs. Trffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

But mostly, we just really like hearing from you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes, we do. And, well, we have a beautiful show today. Very excited for today's show. I mean, we have some very old friends of mine today.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, we do.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Who will be sharing their beautiful, romantic story with us.

[Mr. Truffles]

Can't wait.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And once again, we have listened to the people around us, and we have brought in some experts to help us answer our mailbag questions.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we have some very good questions today. And I can't wait to hear what our very wise and sage learned experts have to say.

[Mr. Truffles]

So we are so happy and honored to have Herb and Minerva Snufflegart. This couple has been married for 80 years. And guess what? If you've been married for 80 years, you're definitely an expert in something. And they are an expert in relationships. Isn't that right, Mrs. Dreffels?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I mean, who would know more than Herb and Minerva? They've been married for 100 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay. Or 80.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Or 80. Yes, they've been married for 80 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And they're about 100 years old.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Actually, I just turned 101.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, well, I guess that makes you a cougar, doesn't it?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Well.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, thank you for being on the show.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes, thank you so much for being on the show. We have some very good questions in our mailbag today, and we're happy to have your wisdom and experience for answering these questions.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The first question today is from someone named Mary. Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I recently discovered that my husband has put a tracking device on my phone. I have not yet confronted him about it. Should I be upset that he is tracking me. I'm not sure what it means or why he would think he needs to track me. Sincerely, Mary. Well, Herb and Minerva, what have you got to say about the tracking?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Oh, oh, don't you remember our dog Chester? He was a tracker. He was the best dog. Gosh, man, he could track a butterfly onto a baby's bottom. You remember our dog Chester?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I thought he brought in the mud.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Well, I guess he did do that. But he was a good dragon.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Oh, he was a good tracker. Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, okay, that's excellent advice.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That was very sound advice. Thank you so much, guys. Yeah. What else do we have in the mailbag for Herb and Minerva today?

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, let's see. Here we go. Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, since my husband and I switch from cable to streaming, he doesn't pay any attention to me. He spends all his days and nights watching old TV shows on the streaming services. What should I do? Thanks, Jenny.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Herb and Minerva, what would you say to Jenny and her problem with all of the streaming?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Oh, Jenny, streams are wonderful places. I love the way that they move the water from a high place to a low place.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And I do recall, my dear, that you always renewed my subscription to Field and Stream magazine.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I did?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

That's right. And when you did that, sometimes. Sometimes you even went with me on them streams when we would go fly fishing.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Oh, it was beautiful on them streams.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Now, these young folks, they catch and release, but we didn't.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Oh, no, we caught a good bit of fish back then in those streams.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yeah, those streams, they were chock full of them fish.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Beautiful.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, that was very good advice.

[Mr. Truffles]

Thank you, guys.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you guys, that was so insightful. We have really enjoyed having your wisdom and your experience to help us answer these important questions today.

[Mr. Truffles]

It really was such a treat.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I hope you'll come back and join us again soon.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, please do.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, I think it's time to talk a little bit about the guests we have coming on today.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yes, Mrs. Truffles. Well, this next couple, their story is so beautiful and so unique. I've never really heard anything like it. And you're about to. We're about to visit with Simran and Guru Prem Khalsa. Now, they've been married since 1990. They have two growing children and through thick and thin have grown to love each other more each day. They are both breath, posture and divine alignment specialists, yoga teachers and trainers and coaches. Simran specializes in healing from food disorders to live in wholeheartedly. And Guru Prem specializes in Recovery, healing bodies and minds and living a life with purpose, faith and joy. And we cannot wait for you to hear their beautiful story of romance and adventure. When we come back with for love and Chocolate.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We'll be right back with Guru Prem and Simran.

[Mr. Truffles]

For over 40 years, toyshare has been a staple in the Beverly Hills community. Like so many other families in the community, our family has had a long standing love affair with Toyshire chocolates. Over the years, we formed traditions and memories around these extraordinary Swiss chocolates and the enchanting wonderland of fantasy truffle boxes inside our store. Today, our family is proud to be carrying on the toy shoe tradition in Beverly Hills. Well, welcome back, everyone. And I must say, Mrs. Truffles, you seem to be especially giddy right now. What's going on?

[Mrs. Truffles]

So this is really fun for me because usually we've had people in here that Tommy's known for 20, 30 years. Usually 30 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

30 years.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But today we have some. Some friends of mine that I've known for over 20 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And they are one of the most amazing couples I have ever known. They are. There's just a bright aura of light that follows them around. We're sitting here with Guru Prem and Simmering Khalsa and. Welcome, you guys.

[Mr. Truffles]

Welcome, guys. Thank you.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Thank you.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Thank you for having us.

[Mr. Truffles]

What a treat.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's so nice to have you here and I'm really excited to hear all about your story.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah. This is a completely different book.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How long have you guys been married?

[Herb Snufflegart]

34 years.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And do you remember the first time you met Guru Prem?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And do you remember when you first saw him, like, your observations of him? Did you think he was, you know, kind of cute or were you just kind of thinking like, oh, he's just another guy?

[Herb Snufflegart]

I definitely thought that he was handsome, fit and had a radiance. There was definitely something that I saw there.

[Mr. Truffles]

It felt, I guess.

[Herb Snufflegart]

You felt, I felt, yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

There's kind of a power and an energy.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And Guru Prem, the first time you saw Simran, tell me what your first observation.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

She was riding a skateboard. She was riding a skateboard. That was the first time I met her riding a skateboard.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Was she good at it?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yes, she was good at it. And I was, but I was. First time we met, this was going to be an arranged marriage, but it was not publicly announced and I was not particularly comfortable with the idea.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay. Marrying somebody that was exploring the idea.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

At that point, at that juncture. Yeah. It was in the wind circulating that this is a Woman that the spirits are guiding us to come together.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Herb Snufflegart]

You know, my mom, when she saw my husband now, but Guru Prem, he was doing service outside of the temple.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The service where you feed people.

[Herb Snufflegart]

He was serving there. Yeah, feeding. She saw him and she thought, ooh, this is a golden yogi. He might make a good husband for my daughter.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

This is not 1847. This is 1989.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Like, you know, we've had those moments where, like, remember we met those three doctors in Zurich?

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we're like, you know, we've got three marriageable age daughters.

[Mr. Truffles]

Make this happen.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Parents maybe do that from time to time when they see somebody who looks like they would be an amazing fit.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes. So on my return from school abroad, my parents presented me with the idea that marriage was a possibility.

[Mr. Truffles]

Had this ever come up before, this idea of an arranged marriage?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes. In the community I grew up in, it was definitely something that was taught as a concept that the families and the elders in the community would look for people and ask them. It wasn't forced arranged.

[Mr. Truffles]

It was considered.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah. I was asked, would you like to marry this fellow? And I said, well, okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

Just like that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So who asked you? Who posed that question to you?

[Herb Snufflegart]

It was my friend who worked with one of my teachers.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So she knew that this was being batted about this idea she was batting.

[Herb Snufflegart]

About with my mother and with running, you know, running it by a teacher of mine. Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay. So you. You felt like, okay, I mean, if they're gonna find me a husband, this looks like a good one.

[Herb Snufflegart]

My upbringing was to recognize that somebody else was looking out for my best interest. This fellow with his gymnastic background. I'm an athlete, you know, very physical thought, that's a good match.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Now, my recollection. But there was a sort of the engagement moment. It was a soft engagement, if you will.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And I remember clearly you were sitting in the studio, and I remember talking to you. She was sitting up on this stool, and I had headphones on, was listening.

[Herb Snufflegart]

To some mix that he made his studio.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And I told her, you know, you don't have to do this. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't do this.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, so you wanted to.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Were you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Did you really want to talk her out of it, or were you just.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Trying to see how it easy as possible for her to say no? In fact, there was a part of me that really wanted her to say no. I didn't want her to feel like, you have to do this. There was a part of me that felt I had to do this. And it had actually nothing to do with her as a person. It was kind of a bigger story in my life that really had nothing to do with her. It was sort of an act of faith, if you will. In fact, she was gonna be my out. Just say no.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think it's sweet that it started that way. And it wasn't this feeling of coercion or forced on either side.

[Herb Snufflegart]

No, not at all. Not at all.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

But she didn't say no.

[Herb Snufflegart]

We dated for about 40 days. We'd go out to eat.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So had you lived in India before all this happened?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I'd never even been to India.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So you must have found her fascinating in all her travel and study there. I mean, you guys probably had amazing days.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

The fact having lived in India was totally. She's an exotic. I mean, she's a Brooklyn girl who's lived in India that's not easy to find.

[Herb Snufflegart]

And can sword fight.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And can sword fight too.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And skateboard and is absolutely beautiful. Like, let's not forget that. I mean, she is still stunning. Now. I can only imagine how you must have been taken by her when you first met her.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Honestly, when she decided she was going to do it then at that point, it was a surrender of faith for me. Okay. The next God. And it was kind of a blur from that moment. This was, you know, the. I guess the official yes to the engagement was, I believe in May. And the wedding was on Bastille Day, July 14, which happens to be my parents wedding day.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Hmm.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah. So we dated for about six weeks.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yep.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And then off we went to New Mexico where an amazing wedding somehow was planned.

[Mrs. Truffles]

In New Mexico.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

In New Mexico.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I had nothing to do with it.

[Mr. Truffles]

But did you have any ties to New Mexico at all? Any ties?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

To New Mexico?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah, we go out there pretty much every summer.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yes. I mean, there's like a Sikh temple right there. And then they. This is big open grass area. Part of it was tented. And somehow her mother and a few other people managed to pull off this wedding for about 300 people.

[Mr. Truffles]

My goodness.

[Herb Snufflegart]

And we actually got married with a friend of mine who I grew up with.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

So it was a double wedding, actually.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And this is a double wedding.

[Herb Snufflegart]

A double wedding.

[Mr. Truffles]

45. No, this is six weeks after your first date.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes, yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

And so all the plans had to happen. I mean, did the planning start as soon as the first date was over?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Somebody was.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Somebody was. I think so the plans. The other couple that we got married with, they had already begun the plans. So they just. We just we just tagged on them. So we. There was a wedding already planned. They just make it bigger.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, how exciting. I mean, that's the sort of thing that little girls dream of doing. Like, oh, we're gonna have a double wedding one day when we grow.

[Mr. Truffles]

So after the first date, your mom calls and she says, well. And you say, call the cake maker.

[Herb Snufflegart]

There you go.

[Mr. Truffles]

This is happening.

[Herb Snufflegart]

That's right. That's right.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It was kind of like that. It was a bit surreal. I'm kind of like surrendering into it. I often ask myself, what are you getting into? You know, I didn't know her at all. We're talking about old fashioned 18th century dating.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I don't think we kissed until. Did we kiss on our date?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

No. Wow. I would remember.

[Mr. Truffles]

So the wedding day. That was the first kiss.

[Herb Snufflegart]

That was the first kiss.

[Mr. Truffles]

First kiss.

[Herb Snufflegart]

That was the first kiss.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow. That is old school.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. And was that a cognizant thing? We're not going to kiss on our wedding day? Oh, yeah, it was kind of.

[Herb Snufflegart]

That was part of the culture.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Part of the culture. You know, Listen, I was Darcy's verboten, y'all. Look, I was gonna. I'm talking 18th century, remember? I was gonna be not only her first husband, I was gonna be her first date.

[Mr. Truffles]

Is that right? My goodness. That's fantastic. Your first date led to your marriage 45 days later, whatever it was.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yep, that's right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, let me. Can I just say that when you consider that half the marriages in our society end up in divorce, maybe there's something to be said for letting your parents weigh in. I mean, you know, your parents really do know what's best for you, usually.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, they've got your best interests at heart.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Absolutely. I think it'd be practical.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

You mentioned, you know, math before chemistry. Sometimes it's good to have somebody just do the basic math for you before you allow the juices to sort of cloud everything up.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right, right. Because you get clouded and people. Well, that's why half of them don't work out.

[Mr. Truffles]

Probably explain, because we were talking about this earlier, but explain the math before chemistry.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

If you've studied science in school before you take a chemistry class, you get your basic math class because you're not going to be able to do basic formulas in chemistry without some math background. So that's the old saying, math before chemistry. And so if you have somebody, matchmaker, they're going, no, this is all wrong. This will never work. This person not only can't balance a checkbook, they got nothing to put in it basic math, how our relationship worked out. It could have been cosmic luck. It could have been what, you know, it's one of these things, you know?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, it really does feel to me as I interview these different couples and hear their stories. Tends to usually be a lot of cosmic luck. There always does seem to be that involved. There's nothing wrong with that. So you guys had a beautiful double wedding in Taos, New Mexico. Tell us a little bit about what that wedding was like. Describe the day for us.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

A very typical Sikh wedding wedding, which in and of itself is part of what's called a sikudwara. We do a lot of singing, chanting, and then there's a unique ceremony where the bride and the husband, we circumnavigate the Sikh scriptures. Each layer of it takes you deeper into the consciousness of the human spirit, but it's also about bringing an understanding of the two bodies that are becoming one soul. So that's a ceremony to introduce that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Like scrolls, like, physically, like the scriptures are they.

[Herb Snufflegart]

It's a physical book.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It's a big book.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's a big book. A big, pretty book, probably.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yes. And so there's a whole ceremony with that and lots of music.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I remember most my dress. I think that that probably in terms of the wedding, was what I had the most input on. I loved my princess dress. Had beautiful silk buttons up the back, lace arms, and beautiful long skirt. And definitely a fairy princess.

[Mr. Truffles]

I was gonna say it sounds like a princess.

[Herb Snufflegart]

It really. It really was. It was a gorgeous day in New Mexico. All of my friends who I had grown up with were there, and my family, who I don't think ever had come together before. And his. His mom, three siblings were all there. His father had already passed. Both of my grandmas, my aunts, and my cousin were there. So it was definitely something special that I had not experienced. But to have that was, I think, probably one of the highlights, especially as I look back at the pictures. I think that's one of my most vivid memories is having so many people who I love there and supporting this and celebrating it. Adventure.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It was going to be an adventure. And I remember we started our honeymoon in Taos. We had rented a red Mustang convertible, and we were listening. Oh, it was so funny. And we're listening to my musical tastes and hers.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

And that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And then where did you go on your honeymoon after that?

[Herb Snufflegart]

Taos and Aspen. Aspen. For the Aspen Music Festival.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Festival.

[Herb Snufflegart]

We were in a tent, and they were conducting Beethoven's Ninth. And I swear There was a thunderclap at the end, and it was.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

The whole audience, it was like, all right, this is our honeymoon. We're anointed.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's so great.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Choir is singing. We're singing.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's great.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah. You know, it's interesting. At the time, I was going through some struggles with self love. It was very fascinating to have tried to have been the perfect girl growing up in my late teens and have tried to control life by trying to control my food issues. On meeting him, I was outwardly there. You know, I'd have outbursts of anger and frustration. He just was so chill, non reactive, that by day 30, after our we got married, I was in love. He just was so allowing for me to go through what I needed to go through. He didn't take it personally. I remember going, I really like this guy. He's really cool. You know, because I'd had to like him enough to date him and to say, you know, and say I do and, you know, get married. But I think that that was probably the beginning of my really loving him, was the fact that he loved himself enough to not take what I was going through personally.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It wasn't the three ski trips we took to Taos that winter that helped.

[Mrs. Truffles]

This was before that. I loved house. This is.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's unconventional, at least. At least in our. In our universe, this arranged marriage thing. But it's no less beautiful than anything we've heard. This idea that the marriage was arranged, you both took a leap of faith and that you slowly fell in love. There are no outside obstacles. Right. You're in it. The fact that you're letting her just be.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I had to. I guess I had enough wisdom. She needed to grow more before any pressure of being married would be put upon her. I guess I understood enough of that. And I also had enough ways to distract myself that it was fine. And I also was operating on faith. There are other forces guiding this, and I'm going to have to just let a greater spirit guide this and be patient.

[Mr. Truffles]

See, that's beautiful. That's so raw and real and true. And I know it was only 30 days, but it sounds like there were real challenges. And the fact that you could just be and let her be and that you would eventually come together and she found herself loving you in the stillness of you, allowing her to authenticate herself.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

You know, I believe it was on our third Taos ski trip. You know, love has many layers, but I realized in Taos, she's a whole lot of fun to go out on these Adventures with. And that to me was so important. I wanted to have somebody I could go on an adventure with. You know, an adventuresome spirit. That's the layer of love that I experienced. I was falling in love with the adventure of her spirit. You like to do this? Well, got more surprises. There was new things that she was going to get to experience that she was pretty keen on. Oh, let's try that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes, an adventuresome spirit.

[Mr. Truffles]

And that wasn't on her bio. When you were told that you were going to marry this woman, the skateboard.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Was kind of a game.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

What she had, which was this is a woman of tremendous courage and fearlessness. The joke that started early in our marriage, because she's a skillful fighter. I'll make the pretense, honey, I'm going to protect you from the hordes. But in reality, she gets the sword and I'll be yelling at the bad guy while she's cutting him down.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You are trained at swords?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. Fencing, broadsword?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

No.

[Herb Snufflegart]

It's actually a Sikh martial art called Gutka.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Lot of slicing and dicing.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Lot of slicing and dicing.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right on.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I can use two swords.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, wow, that's. I'd like to see that.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It means we never fight in the kitchen. By the way. This may seem really, really shocking. In our 34 years, we have never fought.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I think it has something to do with each of us being able to come together and have fun and yet being able to be apart and still feel whole. I mean, when I was raising the kids, he would be gone probably four months out of the year at various times, like traveling for work. Traveling for work. As our kids became more self sufficient, he kind of went, tag, you're it. And I started traveling and teaching. We've always had this dynamic of somebody's holding the fort, if you will, and somebody's out in the world and you are.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You're yoga teachers and musicians.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Musicians, Yep. We've mostly traveled for yoga around the world in lots of exotic places. Iceland, China, all over Europe, South America.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Do you do that together or do.

[Herb Snufflegart]

You'Ve done it a few times together, but usually it has been on.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Like you said, one or the other is.

[Herb Snufflegart]

But what I realized was that one of our gifts is that even at home. Home we do a lot of things together. Like we meditate in the morning together. We have our tea in the morning together. We're also totally fine if somebody decides to read a book rather than talk to the other. I feel like it's a really healthy way of being able to Be you and being together. Like, he really likes you just being around. You know, sometimes you want to be with the person. You want to have the conversation, and you want to. You want their attention. But he likes to do his thing. And he goes, you're still here. Oh, good, you're still here.

[Mr. Truffles]

I just didn't know that you're close. I just want to know that we're.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Kind of like that, too. We'll kind of be doing our own things. I'll be reading things, or he'll be. We'd like to just be in each other's orbit. Yeah.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

What you're telling me just sounds like a real mutual love and respect that you have for each other that you can say, sweetheart, you hold down the fort. I've got to go to India. I've got to go to Iceland. And tag team. You're it. I've got to now go on my journey to have that love and trust doesn't just happen because you're married. It takes work, it takes respect, it takes love, it takes a depth. That doesn't happen overnight. But 34 years, it's like a layered love and respect that just continues to grow, I'm guessing. Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It would be really nice to hear your advice. Your best advice that you would give your own children or to anyone who's looking for love. What? Your best piece of advice.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Maybe we should start with your grandmother's best piece of advice.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I think so. My grandma was a southern belle, and she told us. She looked at us and she said, now don't you both go getting angry at the same time.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That is good advice.

[Mr. Truffles]

Stay away from that. You should be fine.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

My advice is if you both get up and do your personal. Just say meditative cleansing in the morning first, you've got a good shot at the day.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay. Nice. Get yourself into a good space first. Good advice.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

A funny story on our 20th anniversary. Simran shows up driving a nearly new Porsche.

[Herb Snufflegart]

And I look at this and I went, 9, 11.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

What the f is that? He says, well, I've decided to get you this car. I said, no, you're not.

[Herb Snufflegart]

He said, take it back.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I said, I can't be seen in the car like this.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And did you take it back?

[Herb Snufflegart]

I did. And the lady who was selling it to me, she said, why don't you just keep it for a week?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

So she comes, she brings the car.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Back, and I wore down his defense.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Well, just take it out. I'm driving this car like it's not me already. Stand down. Enough Dressed in a turban. Third day. I used to practice Ashtanga yoga, rather robust form of yoga. So I'm driving to Ashtanga yoga on a Sunday morning and it's a gorgeous day and this car is fun. And I said, thank you Simran. I'm gonna keep this bloody car. And I kept it for almost 10 years until the engine blew up and.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I, I think you were going to to a stag event.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I was going to.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What color was the Porsche?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It was a kind of a metallic midnight blue.

[Mr. Truffles]

Very. That was a complete surprise.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

You just went out and bought him a Porsche?

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I thought you were gonna say she bought you a harmonium or something.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

No, that's coming. No, wait, wait. Even our engineer will appreciate this. When I turned my last round number birthday before the one I had when I turned 60, this woman decided what I needed was a Martin guitar from the custom shop. All koa Martin, smaller body acoustic guitar. Somehow she finds this gem of a guitar. Happy birthday.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, that's adorable.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

I play it every night.

[Mr. Truffles]

Do you?

[Herb Snufflegart]

He does. Oh yeah, he does. Now see, it's like he thinks these gifts are for him.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I got to see him driving the Porsche.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Oh yeah.

[Herb Snufflegart]

I get to hear him play the guitar every night. I mean it's just a gorgeous instrument and it's got this sweet little sound.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Everybody, now how are you going to top these two gifts, right? What could possibly happen?

[Herb Snufflegart]

He was going to a piano shop. He would come back and he would tell me, there's a kawaii piano that I've been playing. And he goes, how much money do I have for it? And I go, okay, you've got $2,000 saved up for it. Months would go by and he'd work and he'd go, dear, how much money do I have saved? I go, $4,000.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

It's going to be $20,000 for this.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Piano at about four and a half thousand dollars. He went to the piano store and he looked at the piano and he just kind of thought, I don't think I'm going to be getting this anytime soon. Part of him gave up. I guess I'm not meant to have it right now. My kids and I had heard him talk about this. We said, we need to get in this piano. What's the point of life if you're not going to have the things that you enjoy? So I reached out to a lot of people who have been helped by Guru Prem in his life. Friends and family, clients, and I bought him the piano. So the day of his birthday, I have a friend of ours who'd been promising his dad has a new Ferrari that he'd been promising to take him for a ride in for like a year, right? This never happened. But that morning I got him to take him out for a ride. People show up for the party. Luckily, he's late. He's never late, right. But I had it delivered. So he walks in, everybody's like, come on in, come on in. And we bring him over and we show him the piano. His mind was blown.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, my gosh.

[Herb Snufflegart]

There was so much love in the room. I mean, it was. I have to tell you how humbling it was to ask people to be part of a gift.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

They say, play something, and I was so. I played in my Life, you know the Beatles song.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah. Very poignant.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow, that's amazing.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

That was about a month ago.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, happy birthday.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Thank you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, yes. Happy birthday. That's amazing. That was just a month ago.

[Herb Snufflegart]

These things, it's almost not about the thing. It's about what the person feels. Feels and what they do with it. Because neither of us are what I would call materialistic.

[Mr. Truffles]

I didn't get that, Bob.

[Herb Snufflegart]

It is kind of funny to talk about these things.

[Mr. Truffles]

You don't seem like the materialistic type at all. But it's just. It's not about the thing. It's about you knowing and loving him so much, you would go to every. Just every length to make sure that he had this thing that he coveted that he didn't think he would ever have. Right.

[Herb Snufflegart]

And.

[Mr. Truffles]

And guess what? His playing is his expression of love back at you.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Yep.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Guess what. It been around 2011, I'm thinking, after having been fallow in terms of recording new music, I wanted to do something new. I felt inspired. But I decided rather than me sing on it, I said, why don't you sing on it? And so I brought her from, you know, a background vocalist. I said, you're going to sing on this. And so she did. She started. She became the star vocalist on 1, 2, 3. Three albums.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Four.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Well, three and a half albums.

[Mr. Truffles]

I. I have a small request.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

I feel like I'd almost like, if you're willing just to do just a. Some. A chant, just something.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Okay, let's see.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Little English, little Sanskrit.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

There will be a mantra in here.

[E]

From one vibration the world came to be from this man climb to eternity we all dance to this song of.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Love.

[E]

Let'S join hands and carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on city wide from one vibration the world came to be from this mantra into eternity we all dance to this song of love let's join hands and carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on Carry it on. Okay, one more time.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow, that was lovely. Thank you so much.

[Minerva Snufflegart]

Thank you.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, guys, thank you for taking us on your journey.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, it was fascinating and lovely and very romantic.

[Mr. Truffles]

So nice to have you.

[Herb Snufflegart]

Thank you so much for having us. This has been really special.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Thank you.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's been a lovely time. And we'll be right back with more for love and chocolate. This podcast is being brought to you by Beverly Hills Toyshare Chocolates of Switzerland. Beverly Hills Toyshare at 371 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, has been serving up truffles, pralines, dipped fruits, marzipans, and our world famous chocolate bars for over 40 years. So next time you're in Beverly Hills, why don't you come by and visit or shop [e-mail].

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, I will be dancing to that song of love for days to come.

[Mr. Truffles]

That was really special. So honored to have them join us today. And, you know, it's such a beautiful thing when you think about couples. Every couple has an origin story that they love to tell. And as much as they love to tell it, I think the people around them love to hear it because it's really. It's kind of a window into who they are as people and more importantly, as a couple in love.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, that was an extraordinary origin story. It really was very different from anything we've heard before and maybe just even a little more magical.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's right. So thanks again for joining us this week. And guess what? But we're gonna do it again next week. Until then, say goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills ToyShare Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne, truffles. Join us next week for more adventures in everlasting love.