Book 1

Every great love story has a beginning. Ours just happened to have started a long time ago.

Christy and I first met (spoke) in high school (we did go to the same middle school... but there were cooties). We dated briefly, went our separate ways, and life eventually brought us back together.

There is an ancient belief called the Red Thread of Fate that says two people who are meant to be together are connected by an invisible red thread. It can stretch, tangle, and twist, but it can never break. Looking back, I think ours was just really, really long.

In the year of our Lord 2023, August 4th to be precise, that thread finally did its job. A few months later I introduced my kids (Sofia & Ricardo II) and watched a beautiful chapter unfold.

Watching them grow to love her and seeing our lives come together has been one of my favorite parts of this whole journey. Love isn't always easy, but it's not hard when you choose each other! Today we are more in love than I ever thought possible.

Our engagement

After two years of being together and few subtle hints from Christy - it was time to propose.

Step one: Get her dad's permission and blessing.

So, back to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner with dad. (If you know you know!) Dinner went great! I got his blessing and a friendly reminder from our last visit here that he raised this woman to need no one, not even him!

Once that was squared away - it was on!

For her Birthday, I planned a small getaway to San Diego, a place that has always been close to her heart because of the memories created in her childhood. Every summer since she was little her family would go there for their yearly summer holiday.

Keep in mind I thought I was being extremely smooth and secretive.

I was not.

She later told me that she saw it coming...

I arranged for an unforgettable dinner outside with the ocean behind her overlooking the San Diego Harbor. After our main course, I gathered my courage and I went for it.

As I got up, she immediately looked at me and asked, "what are you doing?"

I responded, very romantically, "I'm doing something."

I got down on one knee, asked her to marry me, and she said YES! - Thank GOD!

Book Two

We really like to think of this as our Trilogy. Book One is everything leading to our wedding. Book Two is our wedding, and we feel incredibly lucky to have our family and friends there to celebrate as we officially become husband and wife.

Book 3

And Book Three is everything that comes after - the adventures, the family, the memories, the laughter, and my favorite - growing old together. (Christy did not make me say this)

All those years ago, neither of us could have known where life would take us.

But somehow, that little red thread kept pulling.

And eventually, it brought me right back to her.