The Cracker Jack Engagement

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody,

you want the rest of your life to start
 as soon as possible.

 (from When Harry Met Sally)

 From their first meeting, Cindy and Duane, found it very easy to talk to each other. They openly and honestly shared stories of their lives and how they felt about everything. It did not take long for them to make a real connection. They both felt lucky to have found each other. It was amazing to them to have found what they had only dreamed about finding.

As Cindy and Duane were falling in love they had to consider two other people.... Kayla, 12 years old, and Riley, 4 1/2 years old. As they brought the girls together it was obvious that they accepted each other. Duane and Cindy would watch the girls together and then smile. The four of them were becoming a family.

Cindy and Duane talked about kids, family, homes, money, health and...getting married. They love to tease and laugh together. So when Duane mentioned a ring. Cindy said one out of Cracker Jack box would be fine with her as long as she got to marry him. Duane told Cindy that he would have to talk to two people before he could ask her to marry him and that would be Stan and Kayla.

After Duane found the perfect ring for Cindy he followed through on what he said. He talked to Stan the week before and Stan said he did not have any problem with it. Duane promised to treat her good. He talked to Kayla 2 nights before. He ask if it was okay with her and she said Yes. She didn't say anything else...but she could not stop smiling for the rest of the night. She loved knowing that special secret.

Friday night, September 3, Duane came to Cindy's house. She greeted him with her happy smile, a hug and a kiss. 

Duane had a bag in his hands and he pulled out a bag of Cracker Jack and handed it to Cindy.

Cindy's eyes filled with tears as he told her to open it. She was shaking as she opened it to find a bag inside.

Inside the bag was a ring box.

She handed the box to Duane. He said he had to do this right. He got down on one knee...(Cindy said he was then eye level with her as she stood) He said that he loved her very much and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted them to be a family.

Will You Marry Me?

And she said

Yes

And They Lived Happily Ever After.

************

******

Well...first they went to dinner at O' Charley's where Duane had arranged for the whole family to meet them. It was a surprise to Cindy. He wanted to celebrate their engagement and let Cindy show her perfect ring to the family. It was a wonderful idea. Dennis and Donna, Stan and I, Teri, Matt and Whitney were all so happy for them. It was so nice to share in this moment with them.

After dinner Cindy and Duane went to Bridgets. She is the one who introduced them. That brought it to a full circle. They met at Bridgets and they were sharing the news of their engagement at Bridgets.

A full circle is never ending. It is complete.

And that is what we wish for Cindy and Duane...

complete and never ending love.

And...

That They Live Happily Ever After