In our case, the time was right.

Michele and I knew we loved being in a relationship and were taking steps to find our last true love. In our case, that was looking in the digital world to find someone special. Michele's beautiful daughters suggested that she try a newer site called Hinge. On the other hand, I did not have such tech-savvy children to lean on, and I just got lucky to find the same site.

We both started by searching close to where we lived, 5 miles, 20 miles, even going out to 50 miles. But after seeing all of the ads within that range (and dating a few), we decided to go for it! I chose an unlimited radius; Michele went out to 100 miles. We thought distance would not deter us from finding the right person. Throwing caution to the wind, we did this on what was probably the same day. Kismet. What followed was like instantaneous gratification.

My search found a picture of this beautiful woman with a big laugh; her smile and personality jumped off the page. For Michele, she saw a picture of me leaning against a pole shot outside a BBQ restaurant in Austin, TX. I made the first move, which is somewhat typical. I was blown away when she responded. We chatted very briefly when I asked her if I could call her. She provided me with her phone number, and I called immediately. My move to action caught her a bit off guard. There's no time like the present.

We still laugh about our first conversation; we should have recorded it. It was playful, interesting, and sometimes serious but always enlightening. There was something there for both of us, and it was evident that we wanted to meet. At this stage of life, there is no reason to waste time; we both knew what we wanted, and we both knew we might have just found it.

It was time for IRL.

Michele asked me to come south from my house in Simi Valley, CA to her hometown of San Juan Capistrano. I would get a hotel, and we would meet at the Dana Point Yacht Club. That sounded good to me! She was scouting the Yacht Club for a possible place for her CEO peer group Christmas party, and they offered us lunch during the tour. We had a meal together and learned a bit more about each other, we then strolled along the boardwalk and chose a bench to sit and talk. If you asked us about that first encounter, it was just meh, not great, but not bad. It was enough to move forward, and I was asked if I would like to have dinner that night. I gleefully accepted. Dinner was much better, and we started to see that we liked each other. This set the stage for a second-day date and my introduction to pickleball and the woman I had dreamed about.

Sunday morning, I arrived at Michele's house to pick her up. We then went to the pickleball court. It was pretty busy, and we rotated and played separately. It was great fun; I was running around trying to figure out what I was doing. This was a perfect start, and we both continued to be encouraged by our fondness for each other. What followed was for me was when I knew I was hooked. When we returned to her house, Michele went to the bedroom, came out on a pretty sundress, and made me breakfast. I was just in heaven and loved seeing her bouncing around the kitchen. By the end of that day, we both felt we wanted this to progress.

Our second weekend together was just as much fun. Michele reserved a hotel in Simi Valley and came north to my house. We had a fun date on the beach in Malibu and enjoyed the quiet, empty beach on a foggy October afternoon. That night, we had dinner at home and kept the conversation going, it was easy and filled with joy. That night, I asked her to stay at the house in her own room at the other end of the house. She canceled her hotel reservation and stayed. The wild card was that her daughter Savanah came over at 10 PM that night after a wedding in Laurel Canyon. I was able to meet her, and that started our friendship with a warm hug. The next day, we did a complete remodeling of my family room and laughed the whole time. This was our start, and it was so good.

In the ensuing months, we could hardly be apart. The 100 miles between us was not a barrier, and we both tried to see each other often. Our fondness eventually turned to love. I'm first, and Michele's following a few months later. We had been desiring this: love and a friend to share a life with.

On March 3rd, while celebrating her birthday with family and friends and watching videos we had all prepared, I added more to my video clip. I had secretly asked the family if I could propose to her, and everyone excitedly agreed. The last clip was mine, and I dropped the question after planning for several months. The ring was already custom-made, and I was waiting with anticipation to propose. This was that opportunity. It was such a surprise for her, and she never saw it coming. As the video went from birthday wish to proposal, she was utterly shocked and caught off guard. I got on one knee in front of the family and was met with the trembling word, yes. The tears flowed, and our future was set.

So many good times have followed. We have grown deeper in love, and with the support of our family and friends, we are ready for where the years will take us.

Today, you all join us to memorialize this love. We appreciate that you have made the time to be with us on this special day.

Watch the Proposal Video

Photos