I Love This Woman!

Katie and I met at a Phi Sigma Pi, National Honor Fraternity, event in Maryland. The event was Alpha Beta volleyball, and my squad did well, we took 3rd overall. But the games themselves had little to do with what would become the rest of my life. I was the weekend's winner with meeting my future fiance'. We met on the dance floor the first night. The next night we met again, although I was much of a dancer as I was one of my Chapter's DDs. We were minding our Brothers and she and her fellow Chapter Brothers kept coming into dance with our group. I made it up to her a year later by dancing with her in the same spot I didn't dance with her a year earlier.

She was a neat person to meet, although I think she was a little intimidated with my outgoing personality the first night. I think it was when I introduced her to all of my Chapter's Brothers that she knew I was a well-connected and personable, uhm, person.

We went back and forth for the next couple of months. Our relationship at this point was nothing serious, although she may differ at times. She continued to pursue while I finished up my schooling, and continued to pursue while I started work. We still didn't know much about each other, other than we were both in the same Fraternity and were interested in catching up. I tried. I really tried to catch up, but no one seemed to be able to give good directions to anywhere. My journey to her parent's house, just outside of Harrisburg, left for a very interesting adventure. The last thing I remember was a sign saying, "Welcome to Maryland."

We eventually got together. If we didn't get together, there wouldn't be a need to read the rest of this page, now, would there? Well, she had to go to Disneyland because she liked Mickey Mouse more than me. So she went away and got herself educated in the Tao te Mickey. Ask her about the correct way to point to anything, and how many parents it takes to keep your children BEHIND the stupid yellow line.

I visited during October and we started going out. I asked her to go out with me at the California Grille atop Disney’s Contemporary Hotel. She said she would be my girlfriend and that was great. Having been there a few months she knew secret ins-and-outs of how to get around the park, and as we rode the tram again, we listened to the poor guy who took all of his children to the park on vacation. I think it was his daughter's birthday and so he took her and of her friends to Disneyland.

Didn't they say weddings were jinxing?

Our love grew openly and honestly. Many other fun events occurred that haven't made it to this history, but know this, faithful reader, that the smiles in these pictures are not rehearsed. The best event we can recall for everyone is the trip we took heading away from Disneyland. I got use two one-way, first class tickets home. And Katie loved the luxury so me, she slept the whole way home. [Hehe] Now, lets advance to the marrying part. I knew she was the one for a long time, she knew that she wanted to say yes to that particular question for a long time, we just needed a master plan. Lucky, I had one.

Months earlier I had asked her parents for her hand. I snuck out to have dinner with her folks and ask them for her hand. They asked why it took me so long to ask them. With the okay out of the way and their blessing in hand, it was now time to ring shop. This was something I did with vigor, as my best friend Josh can attest to. I researched everything there is to know about rings and diamonds, secretly updating what I thought Katie's ring should look like when created. I did this with a few different sources of information. These included her tastes, her ideas, and what I thought her perfect ring should be. Josh and I made a trip to Robbins Diamonds in Delaware and had a great, informative visit. The staff there was great and really helpful. I selected the ring and just had to wait to pick it up.

Katie's parents were nice enough to offer a vacation to me down in Myrtle Beach. I unfortunately had to decline stating that I had to work and couldn't make the trip. The real reason was that I needed to pick up the ring in order to have it available in time for the big night. I would like to personally thank my awesome PTM, Mike, for making work available for me to do and allowing me to successfully avoid another possible lie. He really helped me out here. Thanks Mike, I know it was tough. ;)

With the ring in the secret hiding spot that Katie has yet to find, and the blessing to go ahead, I proceeded to make a reservation for Maggianos Little Italy in King of Prussia. By the way, they have great food, but the whole portions are enough to feed a small army. The fried zucchini are excellent! I waited until dessert to ask her. I had engaged in some subterfuge by wrapping a container of nickels in a small box for her. The best part was that I had her see the package before her Birthday, and the guesses were great. $30.75 worth in nickels, wrapped discretely, can really through someone off...

After dinner, I had a piece of tiramisu delivered with a candle in it. She blew it out and made a wish. I then had her open the gift to a huge question mark on her face. When she opened it, she looked as though she had no idea what was going on, and for just a moment, I had her totally turned around. I then proceeded to ask her if this was what she wanted. She said, "no," and I said, "How about this?" and got down on one knee in front of this crowded restaurant and said, "Katie, I Love You. Will you marry me?" and she said,

"Yes!"

And so our life together begins...