By Paul Pannone

 

Re-issued by permission from eWedNews.com

 

Over the weekend, a Wall Street Journal story titled What a Wedding Really Costs caught the attention of wedding experts and even turned some into writers to give their views of why the WSJ should stick to financial news.

 

Essentially, the writer slanted his views towards a shift to cautious wedding spending, even questioning the expert opinion of Carley Roney, editor-in-chief of the Knot. Most planners and sources weighing in had no real opinion of their own or were not willing to share their thoughts. But a new, outspoken eWedNews source, Brad Junell, owner of CoordEgy didn’t mind sharing his views.

 

“In a time of ongoing economic anxiety and with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in full swing, brides contend with slippery slopes beyond the media coverage of the Super-G. In a recent article in the online Wall Street Journal, Brett Arends asserts in no uncertain terms that rather than lavishly spending money on their wedding, brides could realize a 500% to 1100%+ appreciation in the value of that expenditure “Over long periods” if they saved it “four decades or more” instead.

 

Cha’, get real Mr. Arends! Can you say “Would’ a, Could’ a, Should’ a?” Let me think; forty-years ago if I:

1. didn’t eat at McDonald’s I could’ a looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger did in his body-building hay-day
2. played less pinball and with more Radio Shack 64-in-1 electronics kits I could’ a been sitting in Steve Job’s chair at Apple Computer Company.
3. invested that first $0.50/hr paycheck I earned raking leaves in my uncle John’s yard instead of buying a 3-Muskateers candy bar I could’ a now enjoyed a net worth of a mini Warren Buffet.

Thrifty advice for brides? I think not. Good advice for brides to be thrifty? Absolutely! There’s no denying that the pressures and challenges of the recent economy have prompted brides and vendors to seek bargains and reduce costs from all angles. But to insinuate that brides forego the cost of celebrating the “here and now,” that one special day in their lives that they have dreamed about since being a little girl, that one moment in time that often establishes the foundation of a lifetime of emotional investment, can hardly be quantified and summed up with a simple calculation of the future value of $1 invested today.

 

My first reaction to this article evoked a Homer Simpson/Forest Gump shout out loud: “DOH! What are you stupid or something?” I’m sorry but there are just some days in life where practicality takes a back seat on the bus ride of life.

 

Call me old-fashioned. Call me sentimental. Tell me time and again that “a fool and his money are soon parted” all you like. Out of the 25+ years of being married, not once has either of us said to the other: “Gee honey, you know, we could afford to buy that new 52” LCD high-definition TV now if we had only taken that extra $100 we spent for the really good band and saved it instead.”

 

 

Honestly, not a day goes by in my life where there isn’t something I encounter or remember of that special day when I married my wife: a picture on the wall in our bedroom of a beautiful blushing young women in a beautiful dress standing next to a handsome young man on a cool September day (and how we had to kick the break-dancer kids out of the bandstand for the wedding pictures); the occasional watching of a video seeing my dad dancing in a Tuxedo; reminiscing with a groomsman of how he cut-off an off-duty policeman and got a ticket in the mail a month later; remembering the bittersweet feeling of being on deck in the early morning sunrise as our honeymoon ship returned to port for disembarking.

 

These Mr. Arends are all my priceless memories and are worth more to me than any single dollar that I spent some 25 odd years ago and they are even worth more than any future dollar value you could possibly calculate.

 

My suggestion to brides is this: If you want news and opinion for financial investment instruments such as stocks and bonds then by all means consult the Wall Street Journal. But when it comes to advice and opinion on priceless investments such as marriage – leave that to the professionals.”

The 50 scariest songs of all time to make your party a sonically scary smash

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 09, 2009 – Need to find surefire song selections to bring out the ghoul in your guests this Halloween?

 

Seeking the perfect mix for your haunted house, costume party, fright-night or Trick-or-Treat hay ride?

 

Look no further.

 

The EERIE ELITE is your answer.

 

Compiled by CoordEgy’s rockologist Brad Junell, your Raleigh Event DJ and entertainment expert, the EERIE ELITE is a custom list of some of the greatest fright classics and hair-raising Halloween anthems of all time.

 

The list covers all genres and artists and includes songs about: devils, madmen, witchy women, London werewolves, zombies, Frankenstein, bats, monsters and even Godzillas. As well, songs by great artists: Alice Cooper, The Rolling Stones, Blue Oyster Cult, Madonna, David Bowie, AC/DC, Warren Zevon and even a song composed by David Lynch, the fiendishly brilliant director.

 

Whether you’re stomping through pet cemeteries, casting spells at bad moons rising or shouting at the devil, CoordEgy, the Raleigh Event DJ has put together a song list that will treat your guests to a Halloween thriller!

 

Get your FREE copy of the list today.

 

Simply go out to our new website – http://www.RaleighEventDJ.com

and

click on the big orange “Get Your Copy TODAY” button in the middle of our home page.

 

# # #

 

About CoordEgy and RaleighEventDJ:

CoordEgy, Inc. is an Entertainment and Event Coordination firm that has been generating buzz in the Central North Carolina area with their unique approach to ‘coordegizing’ events of all shapes and sizes. CoordEgy is doing business as “Raleigh Event DJ” – North Carolina’s #1 choice for Family Friendly Mobile Disc Jockey services. Discover the amazingly simple and affordable way to SUPERCHARGE your next event. Just say CoordEgy for excellent events. That’s co/or/da/jee. To arrange an interview, or to use Brad Junell as an expert source of information for event coordination and mobile DJ expertise, please call:

 

919.368.9796

 

# # #

 

Issued By : Coordegy, Inc.

 

Click Here to Email us

Phone : (919) 368-9796

City : Cary

State : North Carolina

Zip : 27519

Country : United States

50 Hot Summertime Favorites To Pump Up The Heat Index For Any Party

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) – May 25, 2009 – Need to find surefire song selections to raise the temperature of your summer bash into triple digits?

 

Seeking the perfect mix for your cookout, pool party, outing or company picnic?

 

Look no further.

 

The SUMMER SIZZLER is your answer.

 

Compiled by CoordEgy’s rockologist Brad Junell, your Raleigh Event DJ and entertainment expert, the SUMMER SIZZLER is a custom list of some of the greatest summer classics and party-hearty anthems of all time.

 

The list covers all genres and artists and includes songs about: summer breezes, cheeseburgers, holidays, beer drinkers, parks and beautiful girls. As well, songs by great artists: The Charlie Daniels Band, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Neal Diamond, The Marcels, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many more.

 

Whether you’re a whammer jammer from the north, a long haired country boy from the south or just a hot child in the city, CoordEgy, the Raleigh Event DJ has put together a song list that will have your guests eating their cheeseburgers in Paradise City!

 

Get your FREE copy of the list today.

 

Simply go out to our new website – http://www.RaleighEventDJ.com

and

click on the big blue “Get Your Copy TODAY” button in the middle of our home page.

 

# # #

 

About CoordEgy and RaleighEventDJ:

CoordEgy, Inc. is an Entertainment and Event Coordination firm that has been generating buzz in the Central North Carolina area with their unique approach to ‘coordegizing’ events of all shapes and sizes. CoordEgy is doing business as “Raleigh Event DJ” – North Carolina’s #1 choice for Family Friendly Mobile Disc Jockey services. Discover the amazingly simple and affordable way to SUPERCHARGE your next event. Just say CoordEgy for excellent events. That’s co/or/da/jee. To arrange an interview, or to use Brad Junell as an expert source of information for event coordination and mobile DJ expertise, please call:

 

919.368.9796

 

# # #

 

Issued By : Coordegy, Inc.

 

Click Here to Email us

Phone : (919) 368-9796

City : Cary

State : North Carolina

Zip : 27519

Country : United States

It’s the end of June and School is out now.

 

It’s time to put this year’s Prom Dance Song survey to bed.

 

You have spoken and it’s official . . .

 

The best “Last Dance” song for your Prom for 2009 . . .

1st Place: “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith

2nd Place: “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan

3rd Place: “You and Me” by Lifehouse

 

We hope you found participating in our survey fun and useful.

 

Be sure to come back next year during prom season for our 2010 Prom Song Survey.

 

Thank you to all who contributed. Have a great summer and for those of you putting your high school years behind you and returning to academia this fall as college freshman, congratulations!

 

“CoordEgy is the #1 choice for Family Friendly, Customizable, Disc Jockey and Event Coordination Services.”

 

We are YOUR “Raleigh Event DJ”!

 

Call us today to SUPERCHARGE your next party or event!

 

At long last the winter is breaking and it’s time to start thinking spring and looking to Prom. Last year we ran a small survey asking Prom goers to tell us what they thought the best “Last Dance” song for Prom should be. It was a huge success.

 

So, back by popular demand, CoordEgy’s entertainment experts have compiled an “all new” survey and again we are reaching out to today’s young people asking them to tell us what song they think is the best Last Dance Song.

 

Prom is such an impressionable time in a young person’s life. It is a time when children become young adults and begin participating in adult-like social activities and rituals: Formal Wear, Limousines, Fine Dinning Reservations, Flowers, Meeting Parents, Increased Responsibility, Etiquette, etc.

 

Given all the challenges and preparation leading up to the big day, Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that few would want to change one moment of and an experience most will remember forever: A shared first kiss; Being elected Prom King or Queen; Dancing with the most beautiful girl in school; Being asked out by the most popular boy; etc.

 

But all good things sooner or later do come to an end and so will Prom Night.  So before the lights go up, before the last couple strolls out the door, and before all the decorations come down, the night needs to close with that “on cloud nine” intensity.

 

So we ask:  “Which song would you pick as the best ‘Last Dance’ song for your Prom?”

 

Our survey is by no means intended to be an all inclusive representation of all possible last dance song choices. There are so many great titles and artists. Instead, CoordEgy experts have compiled a list of 20 popular and romantic choices that are sure to bring young couples close together and imprint a memory of that special moment shared in each of their hearts and minds. 

 

Some of the songs are contemporary and some are old favorites.  Part of the selection process was to identify songs that easily emphasized, and complimented, a wide range of possible prom themes.

 

So have fun making your contribution to our survey. Tell your friends to vote too. Then come back often to see how the results are going and if the rest of the country agrees with your choice.

 

 

 

Fasten your seat belts folks. 

CoordEgy is gearing up to launch a new brand exclusively for its Mobile DJ business — and with a whole new website.  

Stay tuned.

www.raleigheventdj.com

50 Must-Have Holiday Songs of All Time to Make Your Holiday Party BAH-Humbug Free!

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 16, 2008 – Need to find surefire song selections to warm up the Grinches and Chill-out the Scrooges at your party this Christmas?

 

Look no further.

 

The HOT HOLIDAY HITS LIST is your answer.

 

Compiled by CoordEgy’s rockologist Brad Junell in conjunction with CoordEgy’s entertainment experts, the HOT HOLIDAY HITS LIST is a custom list of some of the greatest holiday cheer sure to spike the punch and spice the eggnog at any holiday jubilation.

 

The list covers all genres and artists … Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Mariah Carey, Brian Setzer, Lois Armstrong, Britney Spears, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and even a song by Chipmunks.

 

Get your FREE list today.

 

Just send an email to us with the subject header: HOT HOLIDAY HITS LIST.

 

# # #

 

About CoordEgy:

 

CoordEgy is the Mobile Disc Jockey and Event Coordination firm that has been generating buzz in the Central North Carolina area with their unique approach to ‘coordegizing’ events of all shapes and sizes.

 

Coordegy is the Triangle’s #1 Choice for Family Friendly Mobile Disc Jockey and Event Coordination services.

 

Discover the amazingly simple and affordable way to SUPERCHARGE your next event. Just say CoordEgy for excellent events. That’s co/or/da/jee).

 

To arrange an interview, or to use Brad Junell as an expert source of information for event coordination and mobile DJ expertise, please call or email us today.

 

# # #

 

Issued By: CoordEgy, Inc. 

 

Click to email

 

Phone (919) 368-9796

City/Town Cary

State/Province North Carolina

Zip 27519

Country United States

That is the question. We’ve all seen it done on Funny Video TV, or even attended one of those weddings, when inevitably one, if not both of the newlyweds can’t seem to resist the urge to ram a piece of that tasty wedding delight up the nose, all over the face and in the hair of their new lifelong partner, completely devoid of actually hitting the intended destination — the mouth.

 

So we ask you to share your stories and comments as to whether or not “Smooshing” that first taste of marriage is great fun or a big NO NO?

 

Or put another way, is risking a face full of cake for a laugh worth the consequence of the payback?

As some of you may be observing, CoordEgy’s web footprint is starting to take on new life — slowly, but surely. At CoordEgy, our message is simple: Excellent Events that are Family Friendly at Affordable Prices. This message has consistently been spelled out in simple black and white as our way of distinguishing the CoordEgy brand from every other Disc Jockey and Event Service company — and there are many to choose from.

 

By keeping our web presence simple, we have been able to keep content control completely within our hands — thus minimizing overhead costs and passing the savings directly on to our customers. It has been our deliberate intention not to confuse our message with glitz, glam or flash (we save all that for our customers’ events instead).

 

For those of you who know the CoordEgy team personally, you are well aware how our family has been navigating a major repositioning for 2 years now. For those of you who don’t know us yet this is a good time for a quick history lesson.

 

Go South? Young Man!

In November 2006, the Junell family began considering a move from Central Massachusetts to Central North Carolina. By spring of 2007, we had all concluded that we did indeed want to call North Carolina our home. And so we contracted to have a new house built for us in Cary and we put our home in Princeton up for sale. By July 2007, we officially became North Carolinians and on Halloween that same year, we moved into our brand new home.

 

After several months of unpacking, settling in and enjoying a welcome and well needed break through the holidays, it was time we pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps to continue forging ahead with our family owned and managed Mobile Disc Jockey and Event Coordination Service Company — CoordEgy. Since CoordEgy was organized under Massachusetts law as a Limited Liability Company, CoordEgy needed to fulfill various state and local regulatory obligations before it could operate and conduct business in North Carolina. By March, 2008, CoordEgy, Inc., the small business whose roots sprouted nearly a decade ago from two scout leaders exploring new ways to raise funds for the local troop, was once again open for business and ready to party-on.

 

We wasted no time getting our groove on as we were soon hired to provide the entertainment for the Panther Creek High School’s Junior Prom held April 12th, 2008. How fitting that our first official North Carolina event was also Panther Creek’s very first ever prom. It was a huge success. We had as much fun as the prom-goers during the three and a half hours of non-stop music, music videos and club-lighting.

 

Leaving Massachusetts also meant leaving some of our long established vendor alliances and relationships behind. But this has given us a wonderful opportunity to rebuild our network, meet fabulous people, and align ourselves with some of the finest resources anywhere. And so, as a means of fortifying our access to the vast local pool of quality vendors, talented service providers and event related resources, CoordEgy became a member of the Cary Chamber of Commerce in June, 2008.

 

Hawaii Or Bust!

On November 1st, 2008, CoordEgy principal Nathan Junell temporarily stepped away from the CoordEgy team to embark on a new phase of his budding career. Nate (affectionately ‘Chef Nate’ to us) is a graduate of the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu program and accepted a culinary position on-board the Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Line’s all-Hawaiian destination cruise ship. We are proud of Nate and his accomplishments and can’t wait for his return — bringing back with him all the yummy worldly experience he will acquire from this assignment. It is our hope and aspirations that some day, CoordEgy will soon have its own in-house catering division, led by Nathan.

What’s The Buzz? Tell Me What’s A Happening, What’s The Buzz . . .

At CoordEgy, our service is not a static product. Each and every customer’s needs are unique. Although the basic elements remain constant, the dimension and variety of our services are dynamic in nature. As such, each and every CoordEgy solution is customized to fulfill that customer’s expectations. By extending our service metrics, we are able to better serve the needs of our customers. The following are some of the “online” things that are currently in development.

Great Online Merchant Affiliations:

• CoordEgy IS an events services company and as such we aim to provide and connect our customers with the quality products and services they want, need and expect. It’s a two way street. When we recommend a merchant, they are in essence an extension of our service and have impact on our reputation, as we do theirs. We want your experience with them to be a positive one so we only advertise companies that meet our high quality standards. And since we are all about Quality Customer Service, if these merchants meet our standards, then we expect they will meet yours as well.
• Baby-Boomer, Gen-X or Generation-Y . . . people of all generations rely on the “web” for answers, products and services. Why? Online shopping is safe, private, convenient and cost effective. We’ve all heard it said that “time is money.” The savings realized, both from a monetary and a convenience perspective, come when one can view and compare multiple product features, in different price ranges, from multiple angles, often times in extreme close-up detail, at any time of the day, with satisfaction guaranteed. That’s money in the bank!
• We are actively working on ways to bring consumers and producers together under a “complete-package” model. CoordEgy experts have sought out reputable merchants who provide complimentary products and services that are typically also in demand by prospective CoordEgy Clients. You may have already noticed advertisements for some of these products and services appropriately placed throughout our web presence for you convenience.

NewsLetter:

It’s not SPAM! Don’t worry; we are NOT going to be sending you a new eMail every time a tree gets cut in the rainforest. We respect your desire for relevant, timely and useful information. We want you looking forward to getting our newsletter. That is why we give you the option to choose to be a member. We encourage you to Subscribe. It’s simple, it’s free and we hope it will be fun for everyone.

 

Here are just a few things we are planning to start providing in upcoming issues:

• Valuable Coupons and special offers from our merchant affiliates - Our merchants occasionally send us product “specials” and price discount offers. As we get them, we will pass them on to you.
• Seasonal Music Play-lists — We love music! Music sets mood and builds excitement — two elements that turn ordinary parties into great parties. Not every occasion calls for hiring a DJ. We are willing to share our seasonal lists of musical favorites with our newsletter subscribers.
• Free Party Recipes - Ever have to go to an office pot-luck luncheon during the holidays or a neighborhood social event and not know what to make that’s simple, unique and will result in an empty dish coming back home? We’ll share some of our personal “secret weapons” so everyone will be Ooooing and Ahhhhing and asking you for the recipe. But there’s a catch . . . just don’t make that dish when coming to one of our own parties (Because we will probably be making it ourselves - - LOL).
• Party Tips and Advice - After all, we ARE Entertainment Experts. You can certainly count on us relaying proven techniques and creative ideas that just might save your day.
• Current Trends - As we see changes and trends develop in the Entertainment and Events landscape; we’ll pass them on to you.
• Special Price promotions - Occasionally CoordEgy will offer a special pricing discount for its services. As a newsletter subscriber you’ll be the first in the know and have first crack at booking your event before these prices are offered to the general public.
• News, Important Messages and Information
• Commentary and Opinion
• Fun

Blog:

As if running a Mobile Disc Jockey and Event Coordination business, performing at events, networking with clients and vendors, staying up to speed with the music industry, having and maintaining a website, and publishing a newsletter wasn’t already enough work.

 

It’s pretty obvious that I’m not at a loss for words. In fact, I love to write and even more so about things I’m passionate about. If it seems like we are newbie’s to this whole “blogging” thing it’s because we are. But just be patient. With time and practice comes excellence. Just exactly what will be on our blog has yet to be defined. We expect our use of this medium will evolve over time based on what our customers indicate they want from us here. So at the moment we will leave it free of a hardened pre-defined form. But to start the ball rolling here is what we are thinking of at the moment:

• Tell us your story — We believe in the special bond couples share when they commit themselves to each other, and before God, in marriage. We have set aside a place in our blog for folks to share their unique story. Why? Well, partly for entertainment purposes, partly for advice. Everyone loves a good story — and a good story told well. If you have an interesting or heartening story; share it with us and the rest of the world. People don’t always get married for the right reasons. Some folks have fears of making the commitment. Just hearing someone else’s perspective might just be the thing that either saves them from making a huge mistake and preparing them for the wonderful life-long journey of adventure and emotion.
• Archive home for Newsletter features — Did you miss our newsletter? Not Signed Up yet? Don’t worry, we’ll get you some of the select goodies and put them out here as well. But as the saying goes, “membership has its privileges.” So don’t miss out on getting the really “good stuff.” Join our mailing list today.
• Multimedia essays — We know y’all (that’s a southern term) are anxious to see us in action and we know the old saying that “a picture is worth a 1000 words.” We will share appropriate photos and videos as they become available (and as we have the right to publish them). We respect our clients’ and their guests’ privacy. When you hire CoordEgy, we are there to serve you — not us. So you can rest easy knowing we won’t be stalking your event for footage to be plastered all over our internet pages. If by chance you happen to have media from one of our events you would like to share with us and the public, please feel free to contact us to arrange releasing them.
• News and Views from Hawaii — We are fortunate to have a member of the CoordEgy family and team working, living and playing in and around one of America’s most exotic travel destinations. We’ve asked Nate to share with the CoordEgy audience some images and commentary of his experiences. Being 5000 miles away, on a small ship, circumnavigating small islands, in the middle of one really huge ocean, you can bet as parents we are always anxious and eager to get these tidbits and we are proud to be able to share them with Friends of CoordEgy.

But Wait . . . There’s More!

Just kidding. That’s probably enough to start with for this post. It’s one thing to talk about what you are going to do and another to actually do it. Suffice to say, CoordEgy is actively taking steps, baby-steps at first, to enrich its internet persona for the benefit of its customers. Please do take a moment to subscribe to our Newsletter , visit and bookmark our website, tune in to our blog and be sure to drop us a line at: ExcellentEvents@coordegy.com to let us know how we may help you.

I met Diane in High School. She was a Junior and I was a Sophomore. We met at a Valentines Day dance. I wasn’t planning to go to this event, and as I found out, neither was Diane – each of us had no date. Nonetheless, each of our respective friends talked us into going — they didn’t have dates either and as the saying goes “misery enjoys company.” 

 

I didn’t know Diane and she didn’t know me  nor were our friends in cahoots with each other.

 

Being your typical 14 year old boy, I was goofing around with my friends and I saw Diane out dancing with her friend Nancy. I said to my friends “she’s cute . . . I wouldn’t mind dancing with her.” 

 

Now what’s interesting about this part of the story is that I actually thought Diane was someone else named Anne (I didn’t know Anne either). Diane and Anne had the same color hair and length, were the same height, and had very similar body shape and facial features from across the dimly lit gym.

 

Unbeknownst to me, at about the same time I was checking Diane out,  she tells of a similar story. “Hey, do you know who that cute guy is outside the gymnasium door there?” Nancy responded “oh, that’s just Brad; he’s in my English class.”

 

Sometime not long after, Diane and Nancy made their way to the ladies room in the corridor where we were hanging around  and as they came through the door, my friends felt compelled to try and embarrass me by pushing me into Diane and taunting “he wants to dance with you!”

 

Poor Diane, she had a mouth full of those Goobers peanut candies and had to try and navigate her way to the ladies room while dodging a 6 ft. tall goober awkwardly stumbling toward her with the grace of a bull in a china shop — complete with platform shoes which then made me really more like 6′ 3″.

 

Well, that’s how we met and we dated for about 7 years after that.

 

We dated through her going to college and me immediately taking a job after High School as a computer operator for a large insurance company on the night shift.  We even dated (kind of) with a long 9-month gap in between when I moved from Massachusetts at age 19 to work for the insurance company’s parent company in Southern California. We dated  some more after I decided to move back to Massachusetts because even though I loved California – I hated living there (it was a traffic, fruits & nuts thing).

 

When things started getting on towards the 7 year mark, I believe Diane was starting to get a little antsy — I’ve heard that women tend to get this way when they feel they’ve invested great personal and emotional energy into a relationship with no apparent plan for commitment in sight.

 

One day, Diane and I were coming from doing some spring cleaning at my parent’s cottage on a pond a few towns over from us and we were involved in a terrible accident. 

 

We were driving in a little Subaru Brat and were hit broadside on the passenger side by a Ford Gran Torino. The police accident reconstruction  estimated the teen driver was traveling at about 75 mph before he skid 110 feet, hit us on Diane’s side, pushed us 90 ft. into a telephone pole and then continued to skid another 110 ft. Turned that Subaru into a banana.

 

Neither of us remember any of the accident or much after — we both banged heads against each other and into windows and other parts of the car (Subaru Brats didn’t have a whole heck of a lot of room inside as they were basically 2-seat-er mini pick-up trucks).

 

Anyway, I digress. It was about that time I realized that this incident was God’s way of making it clear for me to see the truly precious gift he had presented me, and that it was time I returned him the promise to honor and cherish this gift as he expected.  

 

Now it’s funny because after 6 years, Diane was thinking that she had me all figured out. And despite my ability to remain predictably unpredictable, she would “. . . know when I was going to pop the question” and that  she’d  “. . . see it coming a mile away and I wouldn’t be able to surprise her!”

 

Ha Ha — he chortles. For those of you who don’t know me, Brad is the master of “Can Do!” And if you tell me I can’t — I WILL — just to prove to you I can!

 

So, secretly I purchased a diamond engagement ring. 

 

Now mind you, it is important to realize that although sexual promiscuity was somewhat rampant in the 80’s, both Diane and I abstained through our years of dating. It was important for me to respect this virtue and so I met with Diane’s father (and Diane’s mother didn’t even know) and told him my intentions and plans and received his blessing.

 

Remember she did say she would  “. . .see it coming a mile away.”

 

I artfully orchestrated a weekend getaway to Maine under the guise of meeting up with friends who were leaving separately.

 

We drove to the rocky coast of Pemaquid Point, ate our fresh boiled Lobster and steamed clams with the spray of the breaking waves misting past us. The only sounds were the ocean, seagulls and the minimal conversation between us as we gazed out across the horizon together as if we could see our futures moving towards us with the tide.

 

I brought my acoustic guitar and although I really didn’t have any particular songs I knew how to play, I serenaded her with improvisational ad hoc compositions (yes, Brad is actually very musically talented too –  wouldn’t you expect that of a great DJ?).

 

At the very moment when I could tell that ”the moment” was the furthest thing from her mind, I knelt before her on the jagged rocks, opened the black velvet ring box and asked “Diane, will you marry me?”

 

She never saw it coming!

 

At the time of this writing, Diane and I are about 11 months away from being married 25 years. And although there have been times where we were physically apart (such as those 9 months in SoCal), there have been barely a handful of days where we haven’t been together — either physically or by phone. 

 

We have enjoyed unique professional careers for the same employers in the insurance and investment industries.  Now, we are in the process of building our own entertainment and events services company.

 

Diane, you’ve said I write so well and that you hope someday I will write something for you.

 

This is for you Diane.

 

I love you. Thank you for saying yes. My life would mean nothing without you.

 

Brad