A seemingly harmless conversation between a bare-footed kid and a high-spirited girl covering any/every topic from political candidates to the underlying meanings of 'The Alchemist' can be accounted as where it started. The book though, is the key. I told Trina I'd lend her my copy of 'The Alchemist' - the only problem was, I had left for a trip the next morning. Knowing how much I'd talked up my favorite book, I couldn't hold off. I got Trina's address and shipped the story back to her. Knowing the moral of that story (sorry you'll have to read it yourself) and that my would-be wife was home reading it, makes it that much more special to us. After I came home we connected and that confirmed for me (and later found out from Trina too) what I knew from that first harmless conversation, she was it.

Jim & I were in Ireland visiting my family when we decided to take a day trip to Dunfanaghy. My Dad mentioned we stop at Horn Head on the way home. Thinking nothing of it, I followed Jim up the hill after parking the car ( & him getting pooped on by a bird). LOL. The scenery was beautiful so Jim set up his tripod for some pictures. Mid way through our mini photoshoot, Jim said "One day if I ask you to be my wife, would you say yes?" I said yes. "What if I asked right now?" He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I was in shock! It was so surreal and I still have to pinch myself sometimes because this has really all been such a dream. We drove the hour home with no cell phone service and all giddy and then celebrated with the whole family that night listening to live Irish music.