So, it was Saturday morning and we were re-hashing the week’s events and I found myself voicing the same old lament . . . that my boyfriend of three years was never going to make a serious commitment to our relationship.  At 45, I was ready to settle into something more than just a steady weekend date.

Even though Joanne listened patiently I sensed that she was distracted, and I finally asked her what was so interesting behind me?  She leaned toward me and whispered, “Don’t turn around, but there’s a guy behind you with a hat and sunglasses that looks like he’s trying to eavesdrop.   I wonder if he’s delusional and thinks he’s a spy!”   At that we giggled and continued our conversation in quieter tones.

A few seconds later I heard the chair behind me scrape the cement as our “spy” moved closer.  This guy was definitely a kook who was much too interested in what we were saying.  So I proceeded to launch into a tale of how I had met a fabulous bodybuilder earlier in the week and we were having a passionate affair.  I added that I was thinking about breaking up with Thomas to run off with this new guy.

CRASH!  In trying to strain to listen to what I was saying,  the guy behind us actually fell over backwards, and I was so startled that I jumped up and managed to tip our whole table over — coffee, toast and all.  What a mess and what a noise!  Everyone on the patio was looking at us!

I turned to give this guy a piece of my mind and absolutely could not believe the sight of my Thomas righting himself and his chair and trying to maintain some small semblance of dignity.  “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”  I yelled.

“Well, believe it or not honey.  This was a well-planned attempt to propose in a very unique and romantic way.  It just didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned!”  With that, he pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket and took my hand.

“Janet, don’t you even think about running off with some other guy!  You’re my girl, and I want you to be my wife!  Will you marry me?”

Trying to hold back a combination of laughter and tears, I held out my hand for Thomas to slip the diamond on my finger.  “Thomas, I’ll call Fabio the minute I leave here and tell him the deal’s off.  I would love to be your wife.”

The telephone was ringing as she walked in the front door and she rushed to answer it.  It was Paul and  he didn’t even tell her happy birthday.  He just announced that his boss had assigned him an urgent project that needed to be completed by 8:00 the following morning. He followed up by saying that in the  bedroom closet he had a briefcase full of documents he needed immediately to do the project.  His request, “Would you please do me a big favor and bring those to me at the office?” added to the disappointment that was now beginning to set in.  The evening she had looked forward to was not going to happen, and he hadn’t even mentioned her birthday.

Paul explained where the briefcase was in the closet and said he’d wait on the phone while she went to find it.

Susan went to the bedroom closet and flipped the light switch . . . nothing happened.  “Great” she muttered, “what else can go wrong.”  She moved cautiously into the closet, certain she knew where the briefcase was.  She stopped short when suddenly a match was struck and she saw a candle being lit, then another candle, then another.  She watched  in surprise as candle by candle a birthday cake was illuminated by her husband who was sitting on the floor with the cake on a small table in front of him.  He was wearing a party hat and began singing ‘happy birthday’ as he continued to light candles.

This was too funny!  Paul was the most serious, business-like person in the world.  And there he sat on the closet floor wearing a goofy hat and singing happy birthday.  Susan couldn’t believe it!

Paul invited her to sit on the floor across from him at the little table. “Honey, make a wish and blow out the candles”.  She did as he instructed but had some difficulty because his surprise appearance had left her a bit giggly.  The next thing she heard was a distinct “pop” and Paul was pouring champagne into two glasses.

Touching his glass to hers, Paul became his serious self again and said, “Susan, you’re the love of my life.  I love you with all my heart, and I am just so thankful that you’re my wife .  Happy birthday.”  He opened a pretty little velvet-covered box to reveal a wonderful opal ring glittering in the candlelight.

With tears in both of their eyes he carefully slipped it on her finger.

Quietly slipping out of bed on the morning of their anniversary, he took the beautiful pearl necklace he had bought her and wrapped it around the neck of Shazzam, the family cat.

Then he jumped back into bed and waited.

The alarm went off and that was the signal for Shazzam to leap up onto the bed and remind his mistress by patting her gently on the cheek  that it was time to get up.

Sharon woke slowly and with her eyes closed began to affectionately stroke the cat.  She stopped at Shazzam’s neck, and with her eyes still closed felt the pearl necklace carefully.  She opened her eyes slowly to see if she was really touching what she thought she was touching, and as she exclaimed with delight over his wonderful surprise, her husband exclaimed, “Happy anniversary honey…I love you!”

We’ve been married a long, long time and I know I’m a lucky woman to have a husband who still holds my hand everywhere we go and truly enjoys our time together no matter what we’re doing.

But, every year I ask David if we can go for a ride in one of the carriages that tours the streets, and that’s been the one wish he hasn’t granted me.  I really can’t blame him because he’s more than likely anticipating a sneezing attack from being in such close proximity to a horse, but I ask anyway just in case he changes his mind.

A horse-drawn carriage passed by and I smile sweetly up at him, “David dear, could we just do a short carriage ride this year.  It would be so romantic.”  Imagine my surprise when this time he simply said, “Sure honey.  Next one that goes by we’ll flag him down.”

We strolled down the sidewalk slowly and, sure enough, when the next carriage passed David flagged him down.  I was more than a little surprised but I didn’t say anything.

We climbed up into the carriage and David asked the driver if he could do a modified trip that would last just a short time — and I laughed when David let out a great big sneeze as he finished his request to the driver!  “Honey, we don’t have to do this if you’re going to be miserable” I told him.

“No, we’re on our way and I’ll be just fine!” he replied, with another big sneeze.

I sat curled in the comfort of David’s arm as we rode through the beautiful streets, content just to be close and warm with my husband.  David bent down and kissed my forehead, and when I looked up at him I saw that he was holding his hand toward me with something draped across it.  It was dark in the carriage so I bent close to look.

In his hand was a heart-shaped diamond pendant that I had admired earlier in the evening while we were window shopping.  I didn’t even know he’d gone back to the store!

“Honey, I want to give you this necklace as a reminder of how much I love being with you, no matter where we are or what we’re doing.  I decided to give it to you on this carriage ride because  I really want you to know that I’ll go anywhere with you or for you.”  And he ended with a great big sneeze!

I wear the necklace all of the time and because of the love he shared when he gave it to me it has a more special meaning to me than any other gift he has ever given me.

My wife Sara starts dropping little hints in late January that she really enjoyed last year when I bought her the dozen roses or the special dinner out that we did the year before.  I start thinking, “How do I top myself year after year?”  But never fear, the romantic side of me usually wins out and this year was no exception.

On February 14th I gave her a quick peck on the cheek as I left for work, letting her think I hadn’t remembered that it was Valentine’s Day, then I high-tailed it out to the garage knowing she would be leaving shortly behind me.

I drove down the street and parked my car around the corner then snuck back to watch the show.  I waved to my neighbor Tom as I crept around the side of his house and he just shook his head.

I waited right outside the garage to hear the door from the house into the garage close, then I peeked cautiously around the corner.

Sara was preoccupied and looked at her watch as she opened the door to her little car.  Whoosh!  Out came the helium balloons I had so carefully crammed in there after she went to sleep last night.

She jumped back, startled, then looked around to see if I was hiding anywhere nearby.  “I know you’re out there somewhere Tim! What are you up to?”

As I came out from my hiding place I pointed to the front seat of the car where one last balloon rested.  “I wonder why that one didn’t fly out”, I said.  “Better check it out.”

Sara reached in and pulled the balloon out of the car, shaking it to hear the rattle inside.  I handed her the pin I had put on the shelf by the car and suggested she pop the balloon to get her real Valentine’s Day surprise.

POP! went the balloon and out dropped a red velvet jewelry box that I caught in mid air and presented to Sara with a bow.  “Honey, you are my sweetheart, forever and ever.  Happy Valentine’s Day.”

The star sapphire earrings inside glistened like the tears in her eyes as she hugged me and said, “I love you Tim; you never disappoint me on Valentine’s Day.”

In the three years he had been seeing Mary he had never been able to interest her in going to one of the games.  She didn’t like the traffic, she didn’t like the crowds, and she was content with hearing about the excitement of the game from George when he got home.

Determined to share a game with Mary, George secured a pair of tickets, handed them to her with a bow, and said, “tomorrow afternoon, please be my guest at the game.”  With a cute little “you won this time, buster” smile, she finally gave in.

Mary was very taken by all the activity . . . the vendors, crowd reaction, airplanes flying overhead trailing colorful banners, and, of course, the athletes on the field.

As the seventh inning was drawing to a close, Mary glanced up to see what bright banner was flying overhead and was amazed to see “Mary, will you marry me?  I love you.  George”  flying  through the sky.

Mary did a double take, turned to George with wide eyes, and saw him beside her on his knee, left hand extended and right hand poised to put a beautiful diamond engagement ring on her finger.

The inning had come to an end and behind George Mary was amazed to see the players on the field lined up on the first base line waving their hats as she told him “Yes, I’d love to be your wife”.  The organist burst into “Here Comes the Bride” and George’s baseball buddies who had all been seated nearby rushed up to congratulate both of them with beer & hot dog toasts!

A new baseball fan had just been born!

Unlike today when a mother and child are typically out of the hospital in twenty-four to forty-eight hours, Amber and I spent four days there before being discharged.  Jimmy spent as much time with us as he possibly could.

Every morning Jimmy teased me about my thorough examination of Amber as though I thought they would bring her to me some morning with parts missing  — hands, arms, fingers, toes all present and accounted for.  But on our last morning in the hospital, as I performed my daily inspection, I was shocked to find a little envelope tucked into the front of Amber’s diaper.  What on earth were these people doing?

I gently slid the envelope out of her diaper, finding that rather than paper, the envelope was made of the softest satin.  I carefully opened the envelope to find a note that read, “Look in the bottom drawer of your nightstand”.  I handed Amber to Jimmy, who was looking on intently, and climbed out of bed to look in the nightstand.

There I found another note which read:

Our lives have changed forever
From now on it will only get better and better
To remind you of this precious time
A special gift is yours to find

At the bottom of the poem it read, “When you’re finished with this note, ring for the charge nurse.”

I pushed the button and almost immediately the nurse walked in with her little pill tray in hand and handed it to me with a smile.  There was the familiar assortment of pills, but in the center was a little box wrapped in pink paper with a shimmering red bow on top.  “What’s this?” I asked, to which the nurse just shrugged her shoulders.

I unwrapped the box and found a pair of tiny eighteen carat gold baby booties. Just then Jimmy held out a beautiful gold charm bracelet.  “This is the single most special occasion in our lives, the birth of our first daughter.  Every year on Amber’s birthday we’ll add another gold charm significant of her life at that moment.   I love you Deb.”  And then he held both Amber and I close in his big warm hug.

Every week we meet to practice for the upcoming Sunday services.  We sing at three services on Sunday and are all very dedicated to the successful creation of a service filled with uplifting, well-executed music.  Peter and I had hit it off that very first night and not only enjoyed seeing each other at practice and church, but spent a lot of our spare time together as well.  Before we knew it we were considered “a couple”.

Christmas at the church is especially exciting, but the behind-the-scenes work it takes to create a wonderful holiday celebration filled with joyous voices usually leaves us time for little else.  My second year in the choir found me running around like a maniac trying to squeeze in shopping, baking, and gift wrapping between all of the extra practices we were having. I knew, of course, that all of the practicing would be worth it in the end, but little did I know just how special it would turn out.

Christmas morning came and the choir was bustling around the dressing room decked out in crisp red and white robes.  Peter was rushing around like a red blur as he gave last minute instructions and reminded everyone of their cues for solos and bible readings.  I smiled as I watched him and wondered when we’d have enough time to celebrate Christmas ourselves, just he and I.

We filed solemnly into the church before many parishioners had arrived and began a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.  I lost myself in the wonderful Christmas music as we moved from one song to the next.  Peter stood at the front gently guiding us, a satisfied smile on his face.

The church was nearly full, Father had come to the side of the choir, and we all began to sing very softly.  Father nodded at Peter, but what happened next was not what anyone in that church was expecting.

Peter leaned toward the microphone at his left and said, “Before we begin this celebration today, I ask that you all join me in a celebration of my own.”  As he said this, he was looking right up at me.  I felt butterflies in my stomach as he continued.

“On this special day, I want to share my joy in finding the woman I want to share my life with.  So, if Jean would come down here for a moment, I’d like to ask her to be my wife.”  My knees were shaking as I walked down through the choir to join Peter at the front of the congregation.  He knelt before me and took my hand.

“Jean, in front of the people who care about us most, I ask you to be my wife”  he said as he slid a fabulous diamond ring on my finger.   The whole congregation seemed to be leaning forward to hear my whispered “yes” as Peter rose to give me a hug.

I could barely walk back to my place in the choir and my voice was shaking so much I could only mouth the words for the rest of the service.  What an incredible Christmas gift!

As he walked down the airplane aisle, he handed each passenger a rose and showed them a picture of his fiancé-to-be who would be meeting him at the gate.

At his request, as each passenger left the plane upon landing they walked up to the surprised and curious young  woman and handed her a rose with a word or two of good wishes.  When her arms were full of roses the passengers began laying the rest of them around her feet.

With his fellow passengers gathered in a semi-circle around her, all beaming with pleasure, the young man walked up to his love, knelt on one knee, presented her with a beautiful diamond ring, and asked her to be his wife.

At least Keith could always be counted on to make reservations at their favorite restaurant, and this year for their anniversary was no different. As they finished dressing for their evening out, Peggy handed Keith a box and said “Honey, I think I finally found you the perfect gift.”

Keith sheepishly unwrapped the box and opened it to reveal the neatest multi-function watch he had ever seen. Not only did it tell the time but it also gave the temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, had a directional compass, and had an alarm that could be set for everything imaginable.

Putting the watch on, Keith looked at Peggy and stammered, “Peg, honey, I um . . . ”

“I know honey” she said, “it’s all right. I know you love me. Let’s go to dinner.”

After enjoying a superb meal, Keith ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate their tenth anniversary. Just as they were being served the champagne, a wandering magician who had been working the tables throughout the restaurant appeared at their table and asked, “Would you like to see a great feat of magic?” to which they both answered “Yes”.

With that, the magician picked up the champagne bottle and holding it three feet above the glasses proceeded to fill each glass without a single drop hitting the table. Then he said, “before you drink, might I borrow that ring you have on your finger sir?” gesturing to Keith’s wedding band.

But when he tried to remove the ring, Keith found that it wouldn’t budge. With a disappointed look on his face the magician turned to Peggy and said, “Ma’am, might I have that ring on your finger?” pointing to her diamond wedding ring.

Somewhat reluctantly Peggy took the ring off and handed it to him. Withdrawing a silk scarf from his pocket, the magician placed it over the ring in his hand and asked her if she would grab two ends of the scarf and gently pull it away from the ring.

Grabbing the scarf, Peggy did as she was instructed and was amazed to see that her ring had completely disappeared. In its place was a small black box. The magician said, “Ma’am, let me ask you a question . . . would you rather have the ring that was on your finger or take a chance on whatever’s in this box?”

Peggy responded by saying, “Well, of course, I’d rather have my own ring back.” To which the magician replied, “Certainly. I believe that’s your ring in the bottom of your champagne glass.” She looked and was shocked to see that it was.

“But” the magician said, “as a token of my appreciation for your time, I’d like you to have this box, too” and handed it to her as he backed away from the table to disappear into the next room.

Opening the box Peggy found an emerald cut diamond surrounded by several smaller diamonds. Keith took both of her hands and said “Peg, ten years ago when I asked you to marry me I could only afford a very, very small diamond. I promised you that someday I would get you ‘your’ diamond . . . happy anniversary darling.”

She took the ring from the box, slid it on her finger, and with a brilliant smile thanked Keith for making this a magical anniversary memory that would last a lifetime.