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Our Story

 
Old Warsaw
It was a hot day that June 30, 2002. I had not yet met her and already I was in trouble. It was 5 past 8 and I couldn’t locate her condo. When I called, all I got was that damn recording. Finally, she answered, “I thought you blew me off”. “I’m just 5 minutes late” I replied. “You were supposed to pick me up at 7:30” she countered.

I looked up and there she was coming down the gentle slope of the condo’s lawn. Wearing a black dress and a smile that lit up the night -- she had an air of glowing inner-character. “Thank you God” I said to myself, breathing a sigh of relief. Al, the proprietor of Old Warsaw had set us up for this blind date. Al had set me up before, sometimes good, sometimes not so good; but tonight, all of a sudden Al became my best friend.

As I handed her the flowers, I somehow had the feeling that I had known her my entire life. I immediately wanted to hug and kiss her. My mind was on fire. Thankfully, self restraint won out, so I kissed her on the cheek and introduced myself.

When we arrived at the Old Warsaw, Al met us with his usual exuberance and escorted us to our table. I looked around the room hoping to see someone I knew -- someone had to witness this. The kids on my block would never believe my good fortune! I could scarcely believe it myself.

To break the ice, she told a bad joke about a boy with a toy train. It was so bad; I couldn't stop laughing at her audacity. Not to worry though, I too was a perpetrator of bad humor. After a dinner of lobster thermador followed by chocolate soufflés (man, could this girl eat chocolate) and coffee Pierre's, we adjourned to the Mansion for cocktails. As Kerensa was getting into the limo, I gave Miguel, our driver, a thumbs up and a big smile.

“How does one end a date with an angel,” I thought. My first impulse was to . . . Well, you know what my first impulse was. My self control rose to its highest level as I kissed her cheek and told her that I would like to see her again. “I would like that,” she replied. My heart soared. I was on cloud nine. I am still up there.

So it began. So it continues. The happiest days of my life began June 30, 2002. They will continue for the rest of my life.

THE MASQUERADE
 
The Masquerade
For her birthday on August 2, 2002, we chartered a yacht -- a one-hundred fifty foot vessel named The Masquerade. We cruised the French and Italian Riviera for two weeks. It was the trip of a lifetime with the most wonderful girl on the planet.


Kerensa's Birthday
Her parents, grandmother, sister and fiancé joined us for the happy occasion. I had purchased her Dad a box of Cuban cigars. “A little suck up never hurts,” I thought as I presented the present. Later, a horrible thought flashed through my mind. What if U.S. Customs inspected his luggage? I would be responsible for my future father-in-law’s incarceration.

 
Tendor over to Le Cave du Roi in Hotel Byblos, St. Tropez
The hostess asked me “Bottle or a glass.” “Vest,” I replied, not knowing anything else to say. The hostess gave me that “and what planet are you from” look. She took pity on this West Texas hick, smiled, and escorted us to our table. It was crowded but everyone was friendly and obviously feeling no pain.

Club Cinquante-Cinq in Saint Tropez


So went a very memorable night at the Le Cave du Roi in the Hotel Byblos in St Tropez.

THE ENGAGEMENT
 
Engagement Chair with Maggie
If reincarnation has any merit, I hope that girls someday return as men and suffer the agony of composing a proposal. “What if she says no?” I summoned all my courage that October 23, 2002. On one knee I blurted out “Kerensa, I love you with all my heart, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” As incredible as it may seem, she gave a big smile and said “Yes”.

Does one buy a ring anticipating that she will say yes? Would doing so portray one as a conceited ass? She will wear it the rest of her life, what if she doesn't’t like it? Caution won the day. We would go together to pick it out.

The next day I called her at work. “Want to go to New York this afternoon to pick out the ring?” “What the hell,” I thought. “We are engaged now, a couple of hours notice is plenty.” We had only shopped at two other stores when we arrived at Cartier on 5th Avenue. The salesman, Richard Simmons (no, not that one) showed us the ring. She lit up. This was it!

Now, here is one for you guys: do you have the ring shipped back to Dallas and save a fortune in sales tax? Or, do you let her wear it out of the store? You know the answer. You would have done the same thing. As we rode back to the Waldorf, she never took her eyes off that ring. In fact, even today, she only looks up when her favorite program comes on TV. Yes, folks, I hit a home run that day.

That night we celebrated by going to the Rainbow Room. I thought she was a perfect fit as I tried to avoid stepping on her feet as we danced the night away.

THE CARRIBEAN

St. Lucia
We wanted to recreate the splendid time we had on the Med, so we again chartered The Masquerade for a cruise down the Antilles. The three week trip began from St. Martin.

 
St. Barth's, New Year's Eve 2002
We reached St. Barth’s on New Years day, 2003. Scuba Diving our brains out during the day and exploring the island’s interior by night. This was the life!

Ending our trip in Granada, we decided to visit the best beach on the Island. “How far,” I asked the cabby. “Just fifteen minutes away,” he replied. Off we went. An hour later Kerensa asked him “how much farther?” “Just ten more minutes,” said the driver. Another thirty minutes passed before we decided that it was getting too late for the beach anyway.

ANTARCTICA

Antarctica
My favorite place on the planet is Antarctica. I had been there twice before and couldn't wait for Kerensa to experience it. It is God’s art gallery. Glaciers and ice burgs sculpted by the wind and waves give the place an “unworldly” appearance. Cetaceans out the kazoo: Right Whales, Orcas, Humpbacks, and others inhabit these waters in abundance. On land, eighteen species of Penguins cohabit peacefully with their most feared predator, the fur seal. But in the water, the Penguins must watch out for their peaceful land neighbor who grows teeth. In the sky, Petrels are everywhere.

We boarded my favorite vessel, The Explorer in Ushuaia and headed across the dreaded Drake Passage toward the Antarctic Peninsula. The Drake Passage is the most dangerous water anywhere. It took forty-eight hours with waves over 55 feet. It is easy to understand why sailors of old feared going around Cape Horn.

One cold morning the wind was blowing at 35 knots. That day’s excursion was to take a plunge in the hot springs bubbling up on the beach at one of the islands. Having an aversion to freezing my buns off, I told Kerensa that I would not be going with her. That was when Kerensa gave me my first lesson in how couples make decisions jointly. It then became our joint decision for us to freeze our buns off in the springs. They say my body temperature was 28 degrees before they ultimately revived me. I learned something that day, “joint decisions suck.”

The trip concluded with a visit to South Georgia and the Falklands. Yes, Kerensa loved it too. I knew we were meant for each other.

THE AMAZON
 
Anaconda in Columbia
Following a brief excursion to Iguazu Falls (on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay) and Rio, we again boarded the Explorer in Belem for a two thousand mile trek up the Amazon to Iquitos, Peru.


Another beautiful sunset in the Amazon
One evening, I walked to the aft deck. There stood Kerensa, silhouetted by the sunset and looking over the river with her hair flowing from the forward motion of the ship. I thought to myself “maybe joint decisions aren't so bad after all.”

We both enjoyed the trip. But it was saddened somehow by the fact that the Explorer was being retired, never to carry passengers again. Nevertheless, the ship provided us with fond memories of good times together.

WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING IN NEW YORK
You may have wondered why the groom is not allowed to see the wedding gown until the wedding. I now know the answer to this riddle. It is because if he went shopping with her, she would have to listen to him squirm, “I like the cheaper one better.”

I first learned the true meaning of trust in a relationship when I gave Kerensa my credit card that morning in the Waldorf and wished her happy shopping in the Big Apple. When she returned, I learned another important fact, Badgley & Mischka is a name to be feared.

The next morning I arose early. I was watching the news through bleary eyes sipping coffee when the reporter announced “The most expensive wedding gown ever purchased was sold yesterday in New York.” My heart stopped as I contemplated how much I could get for my house. “By someone in New Jersey” came just in time to prevent a total cardiac arrest.

KERENSA’S VERSION
 
The Dress (Herb -- don't click on this one!)
That morning Herb came into the bedroom, woke me up, and said in a deep unhappy sounding voice, “Kerensa, they just announced on TV the most expensive wedding gown ever bought was sold yesterday. And you know what? It was purchased here, in New York. And now, do you know how much this dress was?” At this point, beads of sweat were starting to form. I was fully awake at this point. I kept saying to myself, “please don’t let it be mine. Please, God, don’t let it be mine.” Since Badgley & Mischka had designed this couture dress exclusively for me, I knew there was a very good chance that it was mine. Luckily, he went on to tell me I was safe. The purchaser had been from New Jersey and had even had diamonds sewn into the dress. Whew, that was close!

OUR FIRST FIGHT
People always tell us that we are the perfect couple, but they often ask, “Don’t you ever fight?” I will spare you the details, but suffice it to say I was wrong. (OK, you guys. Why don’t you get some backbone yourself?”)

OUR WEDDING
Well, as of this writing it hasn't happened yet. If I just keep from messing up too bad for a couple of weeks until October 23, 2003, I will be the happiest man alive. Stay tuned to the web site for exciting pictures from Paris, Seychelles, and Rome.

Kerensa and I sincerely send you our love and wish you a happy life. We hope that you will help us celebrate our happiness by attending our reception in the spring and by contributing generously to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. See you there!

Love, Kerensa and Herb