No Matter How Vast the Water, Sometimes Two Ships Are Meant to Meet

Kevin and Betsy met on a Friday night after many, many online messages back and forth. He had just moved to California from Chicago and she was ready to meet someone who could share her passions. They started with a great dinner on the water in Newport Harbor and the night ended with the discovery that they both loved music from the 90's, aka Backstreet Boys, Britney and N’Sync. They went on a few more dates, life got in the way and they both grew apart. Months later they got back in touch and after a freshly baked Chicago deep dish pizza (Kevin's specialty), they were practically inseparable. They realized that while they had many contrasting opinions, they loved the new eye opening views they brought out of each other. Kevin fell in love with sushi and Betsy learned to do most of the mechanic work on her grandfather's '49 Chevy. Together they have been making culinary creations, basking in their love at the river and fixing all of Kevin’s “projects” ever since.

While on vacation in Rhode Island, Kevin was adamant about going on a sunrise or sunset clamming trip with Betsy’s family. After a very stormy week, they finally had a rain-free morning with the right tide. Kevin and Wyatt rode to the pond before the sun to make sure the tide would be perfect. The whole family walked out on the swan and egret littered water just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. They had a lovely time walking, clamming and just being at peace with the world. Walking back to shore with only a half full bag of clams, everyone started to get a little hangry. Kevin reminded Betsy that they had planted a clam by the dock the year before. He went to dig for it and quickly yelled that a crab was in the water. Betsy came over, irritated with hunger and started digging for it herself. Upon reaching in the water, she realized that the clam shell was far too smooth to be natural. She pulled it out of the water and to her surprise it was a smooth, duct taped shut fake clam shell. She looked to Kevin with extreme curiosity and he told her to open it. When she did she saw a small, beautifully shimmering ring. Mortified that she had ruined someone’s proposal that would happen later that day, she looked to Kevin. He was down in the water on one knee pouring out his heart and asking his best friend to spend the rest of her life with him. Still in complete disbelief, Betsy said YES!! Wyatt came out from behind a boat with a bottle of champagne and popped the cork right there into the water. Everyone had a celebratory sip as the swans flew away from the commotion.