When I saw John for the first time at Donovan’s, I figured he was headed to our PA meeting but I thought he might be the speaker (he had a tie on).  I thought he looked very distinguished.  He revealed to me that he wasn’t the speaker, but we had a friendly chat.  I was happy that he asked to sit next to me.  Our conversation flowed easily and he just seemed so kind and intelligent.  I hoped I would get to see him and speak to him again, probably at another PA meeting.  Maybe we could eventually be friends or even go out and do something.  

Then an e-mail came – John wrote that he was passionate about sailing and asked if I’d like to go for a sail.  For me, sailing = getting sick.  I tried to think if any of my single girlfriends might want to go out and sail with this nice man.

The next time I saw John was at another PA meeting.  It was a normal meeting with all the usual people and a speaker, but John and I were in our own little world, whispering and laughing.  In retrospect, I’d say that was really our first date though I didn’t think of it that way at the time.  He had to miss the main course in order catch a flight to Phoenix, so I offered to save his fish for him.

He flew back the next day, and that night he drove over to my place and retrieved his fish.  He also brought over a bottle of wine as a ‘thank you’ gift.  I wasn’t sure what to think of his car – a cherry red Camaro seemed an odd car-choice for the quiet, thoughtful man I knew.  As it turned out, he’d wanted that kind of car since he was a teenager growing up in LA.  Several months after we got engaged, I managed to drive his beautiful car into a wall in a parking garage (and he still managed to tell me he loved me later that day).

Over the 9 months since that fateful fish dinner, I’ve found I CAN sail (in the bay) without getting sick. We’re still whispering and laughing.  We’re also several months into pre-marital counseling and of course knee deep in planning this wedding.  And I found out that John is the guy I’ve been waiting for all of my life.

We met at a San Diego Physician Assistant Society meeting in November 2006.  Dorothy and I walked into Donovan's Steak House at almost the same time and asked for directions to the meeting room.  When she signed in I checked out her name because I thought she was beautiful and had a great, friendly smile.  She sat down where there was an empty chair next to her and I asked if she would mind if I sat next to her.  We talked all through the meeting but I didn't get her phone number...I had to look through the email list for the PA Society to discover an email address and I sent her a note asking if she would like to go sailing...She said she had no sea legs and politely turned me down.  I didn't give up though and eventually we met again at the December dinner meeting.  Again we talked all evening, quietly, and I had to leave early, just before dinner was served.  Dorothy offered to save my swordfish and this time I got her phone number. I'm a little slow sometimes, but not totally stupid.  When I went to pick up the dinner at her condo  a few days later she was busy getting ready for a trip to visit friends in Northern California.  She walked me to me car and we talked again for a little while  and I suddenly realized she was really cold.  I said " I'd like to ask you out, but I'm afraid you might be too young for me."  Which was really hard to admit and I hoped I was wrong.  She laughed and smiled that wonderful smile of hers and said, "How old do you think I am?"  I said " Under thirty."  She laughed and smiled again and said she would be thirty eight soon.  I said, " So I could ask you out!" She asked how old I was and I said a shade over 50.  She didn't seem to mind the difference.  And here we are...I've never been happier or appreciated anyone more than I do Dorothy.  I knew within a few dates that I would ask her to marry me soon... So that's my story!  Let's see what Dorothy says.