We met on a Saturday morning. Mike was on the job, I was taking part in a community clean-up, where one could bring a load of stuff to get rid of to this church parking lot. I couldn't back up my trailer full of stuff. Mike was supervising the event. He came over and gently asked, may I do it for you? I was happy to let him help. The other men working there unloaded my trailer. I said I had more back at the house nearby. Mike asked if he might come with me to help me load up the trailer again. I thought that would be alright. We went back to the house, opened up the garage to get stuff, the kids all came out in their jammies. We all seemed to hit it off with Mike. He asked me to meet him for tea. We kept meeting. I was a goner.

Mike took me to the Washougal beach, Cottonwood. It was a hot night. I went in to swim. Mike lit many candles all around, set up a small shrine to Jesus and His Mother Mary, and foster-father, Joseph. As I came up out of the water Mike knelt down and asked. Blew me away.