Candi and Ben

Ben and I went to Deep Creek Middle School, and we also went to Eastern Technical High School (we rode the same bus for both schools). After all, we live just one street away from each other. In school we did not talk much but we knew each other. We had mutual friends. After high school I kept in touch with some of my high school friends, but I did not keep in touch with Ben.

So one day I got a wedding invitation from my friend Melissa, who is also a friend of Ben’s. I called Melissa and I asked her, "Who's going to be at your wedding? Anybody I know?" And she told me that I would only know Ben. So on August 17, 2002 I met up with Ben. I just remember walking to the wedding, and seeing Ben! How could you miss him? So for the whole wedding Ben and I caught up on times and shared stories. After the wedding we decided to go out to a restaurant and talk about what we have done since high school. A couple days later, I left for summer vacation. I told Ben that I would call him once I got home. When I did get home, I saw on CallerID that he had called me three times, and he even left me a message on the answering machine, apologizing because he forgot that I was away on vacation. I later called him and we became good friends. We would watch movies at each other's houses or we would go to car shows. By October, sparks were starting to fly and we decided to date.

Dating

In October we became very close. Ben became my best friend. We did all kinds of fun things together. And I was falling for him, and I could tell that he was falling for me. On October 1, 2002, Ben asked me out. I have never met anybody quite like him before, and I know that he can say the same about me! And then 7 months later Ben proposed. We have been so happy since!

Marriage talk

While we were dating, Ben and I would talk about marriage, and what our expectations were. Ben and I get along so well it’s uncanny. We like the same things and we think alike. There has been many times where I go to say something and he beats me to it, and vice versa. We are the two silliest people you could ever meet. We are soul mates. We get along so well, we still have not had our “first fight” (knock on wood). Do not get me wrong, we have got mad at each other, but then we resolve our issues. We just have this great understanding of each other. We found ourselves watching the TV show, “Dr. Phil”, and relating to the things he discusses. We have found a lot of good advice from Dr. Phil about relationships and marriage.

The proposal

On May 10, 2003, Ben and I went on a date to Carrabas restaurant. After dinner we went back to Ben’s house. It was about 9:30 p.m. when we got back to his house. So we sat down and we were just talking. Then Ben is just looking at me and starring into my eyes, and then he says, “Is there anything I do, that gets on your nerves?" And I say, "No baby, I love you, there is nothing." And then I say, "Well is there anything about me?" And he says, "Well, there is this one thing." And right then and there, my heart just dropped; because I'm like what did I do wrong? I'm thinking he is going to say something bad. And I'm thinking we have fun times together. And then he takes the longest pause, collecting his thoughts...and my face is trembling, I'm just looking at him, what are you going to say? He says, "Well it’s your last name, it has to change." He then pulls out a little black box from his pocket opens the lid and says, "Will you marry me?" I was so thrilled and happy, I said, "YES!" He placed the ring on my finger, and it was a perfect fit! I kissed and hugged him. That was the most wonderful day of my life.