engagement


		On January 8, 1998, while living in Gainesville, we finally made it to the movie theater to see the smash hit, Titanic. Not knowing then, but watching that touching story of love, life, and loss unfold before our eyes would change our lives forever, bringing us to where we are today... Our spontaneous engagement, our upcoming wedding day and why Titanic symbolizes so much for us. :-)



		University of Florida Gainesville, Florida




		As most of you know, the movie Titanic is a fictional love story based upon the reality of the ship's historic 1912 sinking. The R.M.S. Titanic left Southampton dock on its maiden voyage Wednesday, April 10, 1912 (coincidentally Kelly's birthday). With 2,223 people aboard, the "ship of dreams" was both the largest moving object ever built and the most luxurious liner of its era. Proclaimed "unsinkable," Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40pm on April 14, less than five days into its maiden voyage, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Less than two hours later, what was the Titanic and over 1,500 innocent lives lay forever silent at the bottom of the sea.

While the subject of marriage had often been talked about between us, we hadn't yet made any definite plans. But James Cameron's story about unrequited love between the main characters, Jack and Rose, struck a deep chord within us.

Because, at the close of the movie, Rich led Kelly through the theater's side exit, where alone, on the back side of the theater and parking lot, Rich got down on one knee and asked Kelly for her hand - completely unplanned, unexpected, and spontaneous. To which she of course said, "Yes!"

About a week later, together, we went shopping for an engagement ring and found the perfect marquise diamond.

And, the rest...is history! :-)


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