Kelly had decided to attend her 40th high school reunion with her friends from Marist, where Robert is also an alum, in Eugene the summer of 2019. Now understand she had been widowed for 10 years and her professional business had changed to a point where she felt she could finally go have some fun with her high school friends. In making this decision she was perusing her Facebook pages to see whom she might get to see while attending, and lo and behold Robert Saraceno’s name came across her feed. While it surprised her to see his name she clicked the “add friend” button not expecting anything as she barely knew him. Robert was just getting back to the station, early in the morning hours, which is pretty much what life is for a paramedic. Up all night serving the citizens, that usually who are also up all night, doing things they should never attempt. His phone dinged that wonderful iPhone chime and thought “Who is texting me at this time of the morning, or there is an emergency?” The screen read, “Friend request” Kelly Enders (Fitzgerald). “Who is this person?” he thought. To his surprise, he brushed off the mental cobwebs and recognized the last name Fitzgerald and quickly hit "add friend".

So yes, they messaged and texted, finding out more of where each of them had been for the last 40 years. During that time, Kelly learns that Robert has built a beautiful log home in Cle Elum, Washington that he is in the process of putting the final touches to in order to sell. He has a “legit project” that Kelly could help him with as she was a masonry supplier in North Idaho. They figure out what he needs and Kelly being the ever salesperson says she will be happy to meet in Ritzville, Washington to deliver that ton of wall cap from her truck to his on her way to her reunion. They meet at the Ritzville Starbuck’s on a hot summer day. If Robert had any doubt of how tough Kelly is, that day quickly put it to rest. Robert ended their time together after transferring all the stone by saying “Let’s not wait another 40 + years before we see each other again"...and then sealed it with three kisses. They continued to text, over the next two months with more frequency, the occasional phone calls, checking to see how each were doing, and then the Hall of Fame dinner at Marist, that Kelly had to ask Robert if he was planning on attending. Kelly was possibly planning on attending since her mother still lives in Eugene. While both take responsibility for Kelly asking to join Robert to the Hall of Fame Dinner together, they had their first date where their story began 43 years ago, and the rest is history.

Robert & Kelly were headed to Sisters from Seattle and Robert told Kelly they had to go up the McKenzie...he had to show Kelly something...as it turns out, it was a beautiful hike he had not been on for "years". In his earnest to get to the view point - Robert mis'steps and crashed down the hill...of course he popped back up as if nothing happened! They got to the view point which looks out over a beautiful forested valley with Rainbow Falls waterfall on the other side! Kelly turned around to exclaim the wonder of the moment to Robert and there he was on one knee and asked Kelly to marry him! Of course she said YES! To top it off...Robert had secretly arranged a party in Sisters with ALL of their children and grandchildren right after to celebrate their LOVE and union of families!