Hope you can join us! Hope you can cruise with us too!

A long time ago in a city named Tamarac, at a senior living community called Kings Point, in the Granville neighborhood, David was living in Building H (helping out his mom, Judy, such a good son!). Melissa's parents, Bob and Thelma, moved in down the hall. David and Melissa met in passing there and David even drove her and her mom to the cruise port a few times.

Fast forward to March, 2021. It was during the pandemic, when David was stuck at home, because no one needed rides, and Melissa was staying at Granville frequently, because Thelma was recovering from one thing or another. David saw Melissa coming and going occasionally and decided to take a chance and ask her out. One evening, he knocked on Thelma's door. She invited him in and asked "How can I help you, David?" David replied "I'm here to see your daughter." Melissa and David stepped outside and he asked her out 🙂 When Melissa went back inside, Thelma asked her "What did he want?" Melissa told her that David asked her on a date, to which Thelma replied "Are you sure?" We know that Melissa got it right, since David and Melissa have been cruising through life together ever since - this cruise will be their 11th together!

Remember, in March of 2021 we were still in a pandemic, so going out somewhere for a date was a bit risky, especially because both David and Melissa had immunocompromised mamas at home. So their first date was planned for the safe, yet lovely, outdoor setting of the picnic tables by the tennis courts in Granville, where they could sit and share a bottle of wine. It was there, in the shade of the trees by the Granville tennis courts, at a picnic table, that David and Melissa started their dating relationship.

Thelma's health had been precarious over the last few months. Leading up to the proposal, David came to her bedside and asked Thelma if she would give her permission for him to ask for Melissa's hand in marriage. Luckily she said yes to that!! David showed Thelma a picture of the ring he planned to give Melissa, because he didn't want to take a chance that she might not get the joy of seeing it on Melissa's finger. The proposal: David wanted to reenact their first date as part of his proposal, but unfortunately it was raining on the evening of the planned reenactment. So Plan B was implemented. David, with a bouquet of red roses, a bottle of wine and glasses in hand, walked with Melissa under her umbrella to a bench at the end of the shuffleboard court (also next to the Granville tennis courts), which is under an awning and dry. Once seated, David opened the wine, poured it into the glasses, then put his glass down and got down on his knee. He pulled the beautiful ring from his pocket and popped the question. Melissa said "YES!" These pictures were taken under the lights on the shuffleboard court, in a slight drizzle.