How and when did you first meet?
We first met on a family vacation at Wheels Inn in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in 1990. We were both 16 years old. Wheels Inn was a resort-style hotel that included racquetball courts, swimming pools, miniature golf, bowling, and plenty of space to gather with family and friends. Both of our families were from Michigan and vacationed there each year with neighborhood friends during mid-winter break from school. In 1990, our breaks aligned—and it was love at first sight.
I saw Dave in his high school varsity jacket and instantly knew I needed to meet him. Dave was sitting with a friend at the café inside the hotel, Aunt Lil’s Porch, and he was taken by my adorable smile. I walked by repeatedly with my friend, and Dave eventually noticed, waved us over, and introduced himself. We spent every moment together that weekend—bowling, playing racquetball, and getting to know each other. The weekend flew by, and before we could exchange contact information, Dave left early with his parents. I was devastated when I realized he had vanished. I only knew his first name and the high school he attended. Despite living miles apart, it didn’t take long to find Dave with a little help from the Yellow Pages and a few friends.
Tell us about the proposal.
I was home from college for the weekend, waiting at his house for him to come home from work. He was running later than usual, and the anticipation was killing me. When he finally arrived, I ran to the door, pulled him close by the pockets of his jacket—and felt it: a small box holding the ring. He told me I had to wait because he wanted to call my dad first. I stood beside him during the call, and when it ended, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.
Tell us about the wedding.
Our wedding took place on a beautiful September day, exactly five years to the day Dave asked me to be his girlfriend. Church bells rang as we said our “I do’s,” followed by a celebration at a reception hall in my hometown with more than 200 of our closest friends and family. We’ve now been married for 30 years.
What do you cherish most about each other?
We cherish the everyday moments. Life is short, and we’re fortunate to spend each day together. We see our time as a gift and do our best to always put each other first.
Got any sweet, funny, or just plain awesome details to share?
This is our secret! If you’re reading this, we’re letting you in on something special. Dave and I only share this with couples who invite us to their wedding: seventeen kisses a day. It’s a tradition we adopted many years ago. People always ask, “Why seventeen?” We just tell them to do it—and thank us later.
