We met through mutual friends a year earlier then we started dating, On our first meeting, I envisioned us growing old together surrounded by generations of our children. We sat by the water at India Point Park in Rhode Island and had great conversation. We fell back into our normal lives and a year went by before we met again. On that late fall day in November (our 2nd meeting) we became inseparable. Our friends would call and we would already be together and on a journey Missing in Action, together enjoying each other's company!

On our first date, we adorned our Timberland boots (mine pink of course) and spent the day wandering thru the junkyard, unusual for most, but fun for us as I got to show off my automotive prowess (thanks Dad) and he got flex his muscles. In His words: I just needed parts for my for my car and I figured she could tag along and grab something to eat. We changed his clutch together the next day!!

20 years is a long courting, but we started with lunches on the dock, boat rides through downtown Providence, late night diving trips to Newport Bridge and summer & fall evenings spent on someone's boat hanging around the waters of RI. In discovering each other over the years we have in common a love for old school cars, water and music. SOme of our best nights were spent riding in the shyest parts of RI in a drop top 1966 Buick lesabre listening to our favorite songs. Even at the worst of it all the memories from our first 10 years together are enough to last forever!

I knew he had the ring, I just was not sure when or where it would come. We decided to go to Outback restaurant one afternoon to shake up the mundane & as a late birthday dinner. After eating Sarah & Mike head to the bathroom. Sarah runs up to our table, "mommy look I found this ring" being a bit oblivious after a couple of drinks, the toddler touching everything on the table and the stench of "time to go" reeking from her rear, I glanced up and said " oh you better give it to our waiter.. someone will miss that", as I tried to swallow the last sips from my mojito. I started sliding from the booth, " no mommy" Sarah says.. "THE RING" still it did not register, I repeat my last statement with a bit more aggravation as Shayla now begins grabbing straws and drinks and sipping from what ever glasses are in her reach... Mike peeks around the booth and begins to lower himself to the floor.. Shayla sips my leftover mojito ( mostly melted ice) but that was it for me Mike is trying to get his proposal together and i am ready to go.. I say not know or let's go and we leave. The People in outback sitting mouth's open having never heard Mike say two words!. He repeated the gesture again in the parking lot away from prying eyes, Shayla sipping mojito's and a diaper change!