Dear Abrazias:

I have been with my fiance for 12 years. Yes, you read right, 12 long but beautiful years.

We have both been married once. We have been there, done that. However, during my past marriage, I was only 18 and, of course, things that do not start right usually end wrong. I did keep one great gift from that marriage, my son, who is currently 19. He has no children.

We are soulmates, friends, companions, etc. I truly believe we were meant for each other.

During the first years of our relationship, we were both completely against trying marriage once more, due to our past experiences. I never had a wedding, or white dress, or honeymoon. I was just married in front of a Judge with a couple of witnesses who I have never seen again. Oh, and did I forget the fact that I was pregnant?

Today, I dream about having that opportunity. We have certainly become closer with each other and the love has just kept on growing. None of this boredom of routine for us. We enjoy every minute we are together and usually take off on trips just to enjoy this beautiful planet of ours.

I now dream of the dress, the honeymoon, and the second chance to really say that I am happily married. I want to be a wife of a person who really truly loves me and cares about me. I feel he does just that. I want to grow old next to him and hold his hand for as long as we can. I want to feel the magic that people talk about when somebody proposes to a woman in all sorts of excentric ways.

Truly yours,

Frances Rodriguez (a/k/a Frenchie)

“The Amazing Proposal”
I knew Jason was an amazing person the second I met him, but nothing could have prepared me for the truly AMAZING proposal that was to follow. Jason adds a creative flair to everything he does. The idea for the proposal came about with my 29th birthday. Jason and I are big fans of the television show, “The Amazing Race”. He surprised me with “The Amazing Birthday”, by leading me on a scavenger hunt through the shopping district in Boulder, Colorado. This hunt was complete with clues given to me by each store and gifts when I would solve a clue. How could he possibly top this? With his proposal!
A couple of months before the proposal, Jason collaborated with my family (who all live in Pennsylvania, 1500 miles from where we live in Denver). He worked with my sister to plan for me to go to Pittsburgh to celebrate my 30th birthday, without him. He knows how incredibly important my family is to me and how much I miss them, living so far away. My sister e-mailed me and asked me if Jason would mind that I came to PA for my birthday. I was sure that he wouldn’t mind so I booked the flight!
I arrived in Pittsburgh the day before my birthday and had a nice evening with my family. I woke up the day of my birthday to my nephew handing me an envelope that said “Clue #1”. My heart skipped a beat! I opened the clue immediately. It was the first clue of “The Amazing Birthday 2”. My sister was in the doorway taking a picture of me and smiling. I asked her if Jason was there and she said no! I didn’t know what to expect. I followed the first clue and was then given my next. I was having a blast! Jason had set up the whole day for me. We went for coffee, then off to our next destination, which was the airport! I thought for sure I was picking up Jason, but it was my other sister! What a wonderful surprise! We spent the day shopping and had a great lunch. The next clues brought my dad and my brother-in-law in the mix. The only thing missing was Jason! We ended up in downtown Pittsburgh at a bar. Everyone was there!
I thought that was our ending point, but my sister pulled out one last clue. I carefully opened it, not knowing what to expect. The clue said that this wasn’t “The Amazing Birthday 2”, but it was “The
Amazing Proposal”. I was told to walk across the
street to the Carnegie Museum of Art and find a specific piece of art. My sister helped me with my coat and off I went. I was shaking with excitement.
As I wandered through the museum, I couldn’t concentrate on what I was looking for. I finally asked someone where I needed to go! I walked into the gallery and around the corner and standing at the end of the hall was Jason. I walked up to him, with tears in my eyes and hugged him. I couldn’t believe this was happening and the way it was happening! Jason proposed to me and of course I said, YES!! We met my family at a restaurant where we celebrated into the night! Not only did I have this amazing proposal, but it is ALL documented on the website that Jason created himself, www.theamazingproposal.com. I couldn’t possibly write all of the details of this proposal, but the website explains it all! Jason and I are now happily married and look forward to years and years of happiness together. One thing is for sure, I will never forget “The Amazing Proposal!”

Esther's version:

Sunday morning, we were enjoying some quiet time when the phone rang. One of the attorneys I supported was working on a deal and asked me if I would come in to work.

I agreed to give her a couple of hours, but was adamant that I had to leave the office at Noon - we had so much planned for the day. My Fiance, Steve, came in with me so we could leave together when I was finished.

We spent the rest of the day running errands; taking care of things that we just didn't have time for during the week. After dinner at our favorite restaurant, we headed home to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening together.

We surfed channels until we found a documentary about a person born a woman who became a man. The story also revealed that this person was in a committed relationship with a person born a man who was becoming a woman. Love when it's right is a wondrous thing!

When the show ended, I turned to Steve and became immediately worried. He had the strangest, sternest look on his face. "Tell me that you love me." After my initial confusion at his demand, I responded as lovingly as I could that I did and asked if something were wrong. He got out of bed and disappeared for a little bit.

He climbed back into bed holding a puffy, white envelope. I remember smiling because we have a habit of sharing cards with each other when ever and where ever we want. We don't wait for special occasions to give each other cards. As I started to read the card, my heart began to race. It was a trifold, so I couldn't yet see what had made the envelope puff out. Romance jumped off the paper. When I opened up the card all the way and saw the little container, Steve asked me to marry him. It was 11:33 p.m. I started to cry. I was shocked, ecstatic. The little container taped to the back inside of the card under the last words held a loose diamond (we were going to design my ring together). I couldn't speak. Steve finally asked if I was going to say anything. All I could do was vigorously nod my head up and down and finally squeaked out a "yes!" We hugged, kissed, talked and talked. I can't remember when we fell asleep. But, I do remember that I managed to float through the next day at the office even though I was exhausted.

Steve's Insights:

I had planned on proposing for about two weeks, but couldn't find the right time. I had finally decided that I would do it before Sunday ended. I thought I might propose after dinner, but we started watching television and then found the documentary. I just co8837 Creekside Way #1911, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129uldn't do it during the program. It was such an incredible, moving story. I knew I had to do it when it was over. I gave Esther the envelope and when she opened it up all the way, I proposed. She didn't answer, so I asked her if she was going to say anything. When she nodded her head and managed to say yes, I knew everything was okay.

Okay, I have to admit, just like every other woman, I dreamt of the white knight galloping into my life and sweeping me off my feet. Bowing gracefully on his knee with a red rose, he would entrance all my friends and family as he asked me to marry him. I would be the luckiest girl in the world.

Flash forward.

My father invited a guy to our house for dinner on Christmas evening. Not just any guy, but the guy that worked for him. So the doorbell rings. There in the doorway stood the “Michelin Man”. Yeah, the white puffy guy with the blue down jacket on. I’m serious. AND he had a six pack of beer of which I could smell he’d already had a few of. My mind reeled as thoughts of how to avoid him rumbled in my head. He was not my type! Nevertheless, I was nice and invited him in to sit down until dinner was ready and took his ‘few’ beers into out kitchen.

As we talked through-out the evening and he sobered up, he was quite interesting and we had a lot in common with both our father’s being Navy men. He was onboard the same submarine my dad was and my dad had told me he was a pretty sharp guy. They had to leave on patrol soon after the New Year, so we got together the next day and went to dinner and a movie. The next week he brought over his TV and his car for my safe-keeping while was gone. I knew then he planned on coming back!

After eight months of dating, we were lying on the couch one evening when he casually mentioned that he ‘thought’ he loved me. I went ballistic like the missiles on his submarine. “YOU THINK??” I asked incredulously. “Okay, okay, sorry, YES, I love you!” He retorted. So as a joke, I said, “Well then, let’s get married!” He smiled.

Flash forward.

Twenty-four years later, still together with two beautiful daughters.

Janine and Rob

After unsuccessful attempts at finding love, Rob and I both turned to the internet to find someone that might be someone we could grow old with. I had emailed Rob after seeing his pictures and profile on a website. I admit, it was the Army uniform, and the sunglasses that he was wearing while in a helicopter that made me write to him. I am a sucker for a man in uniform. I wrote to Rob, but for about a week, had not gotten a response from him, so I decided to write to him one more time to see if perhaps he had over looked what a great catch I was! Well, it turns out I was right about him, and he felt the same way about me! We spoke for a little bit on the phone before I was going to meet him for the first time. He wasn't a big talker on the phone, and seemed a little shy. I had to go shopping for Father's Day on June 17th of 2005, and Rob offered to come with me. I thought it was a little weird that he wanted to go shopping with me, but invited him along anyhow. So I led Rob all over the store, in between racks, and we just had some good laughs in Sports Authority. After putting a very long fishing pole in his car, we finally wound up at Uno's pizzeria. We had a wonderful date, and have been inseparable since.

On April 9th, we were getting ready to go to my Aunt's house for my little cousin's birthday party. Rob said he wanted to waste some time beforehand and decided to take me on a nice spring walk at the Botanical Gardens (Bayard Cutting Arboretum) in East Islip. We took a nice (chilly) 2 hour walk which brought us near the water, in the woods, and unfortunately in some mud. Later on, he told me he was looking for a beach there, but we didn't find it. Thank goodness he suggested for me to bring my sneakers rather than my 3 inch heeled boots. We headed down towards the old Vanderbilt Mansion and decided to rest on the bench before we walked back to the car. After sitting for about ten minutes, we decided to leave because the Arboretum was closing soon. So I stood up, and Rob said that he had to tie his shoe. (Which he said he had been trying to untie with his other foot while we were sitting there). He knelt down, tied his shoes, then reached for my hands to help pick him up. This time, instead of me picking him up, he pulled me close to him and asked me to marry him. He took out the ring that he had been carrying around for 2 weeks looking for the perfect place to ask and put it on my finger as I said "Yes!!" and had tears coming down my face.

We then went to dinner, and on to the birthday party where my whole family was. I walked in and whispered to my mom, "Do you want to go to a wedding?" She said, "huh?" I repeated myself and showed her the ring at the same time. She pulled me close to her and started crying. I asked the rest of the 30 people there if they wanted to go to a wedding, and everyone started crying and screaming and were so happy. Rob and I were on cloud 9 for the rest of the evening sharing the happiness with family.

Janine Gomes and Robert Strandvold
Wedding Date: March 24, 2007