a good love story

This Blog Entry captured on December 13, 2011

i heart a good love story...and i have a little something up my sleeve-a little creative somethin'...and it requires you to write to me...

i want your love story... in good ol' fashioned handwriting, on pretty paper or just plain old lined paper. if you must...send it over stuffed with confetti hearts... write it with your special someone or on your own... and then mail it to me. do this before january 4th and you will be entered into a draw to receive a complimentary photography session. just you and your sweet heart.

you don't have to married or engaged... just madly in love. whether it's been a few years or so many years that you've lost count... i want to know how you met... where you went on your first date... what made you fall head over heels in love...

put it in an envelope..seal it and mail it to 3881 23rd street Vineland, L0R 2C0.

to be entered, your letter must get here before january 4th. BUT... if you get that letter here before December 28th... I'll send you a small gift for participating!

here's a little love story i received from one of my 2011 couples...

Andrew and I met during orientation for our PhD program. We had previously received the class list and both independently noticed one potentially large problem...there were two 'A. Rosens'. Why would this be a problem? Well who would get the coveted arosen@blahblahblah email address, of course! I had just moved to Chicagoland from New Hampshire to attend graduate school, and ironically Andrew grew up down the street from the school. We quickly became friends-studying together, working together, and going out for dinner or breakfast quite a lot. But we were NOT dating. I really hadn't even considered the possibility of dating since I was new in town and he was my ONLY friend. Everyone else however, knew we were dating even before we did. Andrew said he knew something was going on when he went on a date with another girl and immediately after texted me about meeting for breakfast the next morning! One night in October 2007 after drinking a bottle of wine and watching some Chicago Wolves hockey and talking until 2 am in my apartment, Andrew dropped the bomb and told me he was interested in me. He went home and 'slept like a baby' that night, while I sat up thinking! The next day we met up to talk about how awkward this could be if things didn't work out. But in the end we both decided to give it a shot! And we are certainly glad we did! We moved in together that summer! And in 2010 we bought a house, got a puppy and then got engaged in exactly that order!!!

The proposal: While completing a practicum in a cardiac rehabilitation facility Andrew often asked his patients, 'what is the key to a happy marriage?' On one occasion, an older gentleman who had been married for nearly 50 years replied 'I wake up every morning and make my wife a pot of coffee'.

On the morning of Sunday August 22, 2010 Andrew awoke at the crack of dawn with Ripley (our then 4 month old puppy) while Ariel slept in. When Ariel finally woke up and came downstairs, un-showered, teeth not yet brushed, wearing oversized brightly colored striped PJ pants, a pot of hot coffee was waiting on the table. Andrew reached over and poured her a cup and said 'I'd really like to wake up every morning and make my wife a pot of coffee!' To which Ariel naturally replied 'Well then you had better propose to me!!' Andrew laughed and replied 'What do you think I am trying to do here?' After what seemed like an eternity, it finally sunk in that he was not kidding and was actually proposing, the tears began to flow. Andrew had pulled off the perfect proposal!!!

I'm not sure how Andrew would answer this...what made him fall in love with me? I would like to say my amazing personality and cooking skills, oh and the graceful way I shattered both of his wine glasses the first night I cooked him dinner. Yep, that sealed the deal! As for me, I fell in love with his sense of humour and his smile first and the big blue eyes didn't hurt! He makes me laugh constantly. He drives me insane and does it just to see me react (which I always do), he has made the goofy/nerdy side of me come out in ways it never has before. He has allowed me to love deeper than I ever imagined. He constantly confuses me. He makes me think about things that I would never have thought to consider on my own, and then keeps his own thoughts internal which makes me crazy and keeps me wanting more. He is strong and smart and gentle and sexy!! And above all else he will be an amazing husband and wonderful father (once he gets over his fear of babies). He allows me to be myself and loves me because of my faults not in spite of them. And as much as he wants success for himself he wants it for me and for us even more. I couldn't ask for more...well except maybe an extension on our 55 year (now down to our last 52 almost 51 year) contract!

-Ariel


stay tuned... i'll be blogging their ridiculously fabulous wedding next week!
what are you still doing here...? you've got a love story to write!



***love stories will not be published to the blog without permission and that is not the intention for this fun little exercise!