January 23,2000

Little Heart says..."When I received my first letter from Dan (Scubare), my initial reaction was surprise. Here was a guy who loved naturism and diving but thought I was a good match for him? Whoa! Still.. he SEEMED to have a good sense of humor (a MUST in my book) and he SEEMED honest and straightforward ...so I decided to write back. My letter was kind of lighthearted (to test his humor some more), but reserved, since I didn't want to get too involved with someone I didn't figure I had enough in common with."

Scubare says..."What can I say?...I love a well crafted phrase and a cagey turn of a word. I started falling for Deb (Little Heart) from her letters before I even met her. It didn't take a lot of reading between the lines to see that she was intelligent. Why....I can remember when...(sitting back, stroking my chin while the frame blurs, ala David Letterman....)
Letter number 1 was perky, inquisitive and cautiously flirtatious. I don't remember the words as much as the mood. I was VERY interested. I had intentionally "bared my soul" and told her the things that might have been a stumbling block in a relationship later- like being a naturist and looking for someone to join me in visiting resorts and beaches together. Her response was open and curious to know more about it.
I don't mind if someone is hesitant, as long as they keep an open mind and don't jump to conclusions."

Letters passed back and forth each day. I tried to remain as reserved as possible, but it was hard. Something about this guy drew me like a magnet.
I was impressed with his warmth and his willingness to talk about ANYTHING I would bring up and the fact that he wasn't afraid to take the time necessary to verbalize his feelings and opinions.....no matter how much typing it took to do it. His letters were LONG...unlike those short, cryptic letters that most men send that don't give you any insight at all into their psyche. I really liked that!
And each day I would go to work anxious to get home and see what he had written that day.
Naturally it was bound to reach the point where we would want to talk on the phone.....and this was only the first WEEK!..hehehe

Little Heart says..."Wednesday night's letter asked me if I would be willing to let him phone me. I immediately got excited then thought, "Am I crazy?!!"...But the more I thought about it, the more willing I became. I just felt too good about it....and my instincts are usually pretty good....so I wrote back and said, "yes".
All day Thursday I was antsy to get home...yet nervous. I had told him that I'm pretty shy and quiet on the phone until I've spoken to someone a bit. He said, "So am I.".....I think he fibbed!..hehe
When we got on the phone he chattered like he'd known me all his life! And the more he talked, the more comfortable I felt....until I was chattering just as much as he was! It was GREAT and it lasted for two hours!
Friday night he called again and we talked for ANOTHER two hours...(can you say, "big phone bill"?....hehehe)"....anyway, that's when he asked if he could drive up and meet me on Sunday. I was surprised, to say the least. Afterall, we'd only been in contact for close to a week. I just didn't think we should be meeting so soon. Not that I didn't want to or that I was afraid. I guess I figured it just wasn't the "done" thing.....so I said, "No. Not yet."....(Groaning and slapping my forehead)....Was I NUTS?!!
He accepted my answer very understandingly, but I knew he was disappointed. Heck! So was I!
The next day at work I kept mulling over my answer and by the end of the day I had changed my mind. That night I wrote him and asked him if he would still be interested in visiting me. Wow! Was that a silly question?!"

Scubare says..."My most striking memory of our early communications was how quickly I felt comfortable with this fascinating woman. I wanted to talk to her on the phone....and as soon as I did, I wanted to meet her. I knew she might be hesitant, and rightfully so, to meet so soon. So I understood completely when she declined. But I also understood, and was thrilled, when she changed her mind...afterall, things were going so great between us.
My mind raced as I slid behind the wheel of my van and headed north....(to be continued)"

January 30, 2000

Little Heart says..."When I walked in he was the first person I saw...and yet...I wasn't really sure it was him. I had seen a picture of him but, well...it was still rather hard to tell...so I walked right past him!
After getting a drink and sitting down at the booth behind him and WONDERING still if that was him, I decided I'd better say something....so I said, "Daniel?". Lo and behold, it WAS him. Once that was established and he stood up it was that awkward moment where you wonder, "What do we do or say now?".....EEEEEEEk!
I decided someone had to break the ice, so I walked up and gave him a hug. It was so nice and from there on out the rest was a piece of cake!"

Scubare says..."Although it was a fair distance away (166 miles), and I expected the time to drag, the miles flew by. It seems my mind was still bouncing back and forth between "anticipation", "nervousness", "excitement", "doubt", "confidence", "????"....like a pinball when I arrived. I went into the restaurant, ordered a drink (rootbeer), and sat down to wait. When Deb walked in, I wasn't sure if it was her either. I had seen an "old" picture, and it kind of looked like her but...I was watching her and waiting for some indication when she just walked by me. False alarm?...Let's face it...I was confused! When she called me from the booth behind me - I really started wondering. I guess I was acting a little "dazed" because she asked if I was alright..."Just a little tired from the drive," I said. Anyway, she hugged me, and the process of really getting to know each other had begun."

Although his first visit was tentatively planned as an overniter...whether it be in a hotel or on my couch....it extended to 10 days. This in itself was out of the ordinary for me, as I don't tend to open up that completely, that quickly with someone.....let alone allow a near perfect stranger to reside in the same place with me. I knew it was insane....but I never once felt threatened or worried that I was making a mistake in allowing him to stay.
Those days were spent getting to know each other...although once we started it seemed we had known each other forever. We liked the same things, enjoyed the same activities, and received more pleasure in every little thing we did, simply because we were doing them together.
Once the 10 days were up, he had to return home....unfortunately.....but he returned soon after.

March 24, 2000

Little Heart says... Our first big "event" together was a concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Playing that night were Suzy Bogus, John Berry and Billy Dean.
Although I like country music, I am still fairly new to it so I wasn't sure I knew enough of these singers songs to enjoy the concert. However, I love concerts and I knew Daniel wanted to see them, so I decided to give it a shot.
To make the night even more special we decided to eat at a very nice restaurant beforehand. Wish you could have been there....it was delicious! "G"
The concert was fantastic! I knew more of the songs than I thought I did and felt soooo good standing there next to Daniel as I listened to them. It's amazing how special something can feel when you share it with someone who means something to you.
The highlight of the evening? When John Berry sang, "Your love amazes me" and Daniel hugged and kissed me. YES!!!!....He doesn't know it, but he sealed his fate then! hehehe

Scubare says...."...Oh, what a night!..It was late December back in '63..."..It just seemed appropriate to quote a song in talking about that night. Make it late March in '00 and you have the picture.....Oh what a night! It was perfect- (well almost) from the great dinner to a great concert...and GREAT company! We got to the Surf Ballroom, got a good spot in front of the stage and waited...and waited...the "warm up" group got started about 20 minutes late and then we had to wait a LONG time before the featured performers came on. With that behind us though, once the music started, I got lost in the moment. Though I was proud to be seen with Deb, once John Berry started to sing "Your Love Amazes Me" I forgot there was anyone else there. It was Deb and I alone...I just had to hold her close and steal some kisses. She didn't know it, but I was on the hook whether she wanted to reel me in or not!

Little Heart says..."I was still floating on cloud nine over the whole weekend as we drove to the restaurant. We just seemed to mesh so perfectly...whether it be walking around window shopping and finding ourselves pointing to the same things at the same time...oohing and ahhing over our delicious meal at the Rainforest Cafe....pausing to give consideration to a photo of us in period costume...or groaning with delight over the sinful desserts we ordered up from room service. I never felt so special, cared for, or perfectly at ease with anyone in my life. We discussed it as we drove to Cracker Barrel and he said he felt the same...it had been a perfect weekend.
When we got to the restaurant it was packed due to the usual Sunday crowd and the fact that it was a holiday. We waited a few minutes and then they seated us. Once the waitress gave us our menus and left I noticed Dan looking around an awful lot. I asked him what he was looking for and he said, "Nothing....just looking at the decorations."
I shrugged it off as being true since they DID have a lot of antique and country stuff on the walls. However, when the waitress had finished taking our order and Daniel excused himself to use the men's room (walking back with the waitress with his head bent to whisper something to her), I started wondering what was up.
Things got even more suspicious when he came back to the table and STILL kept looking around a lot. I mean...I KNOW the place was well decorated, but this was ridiculous!
Once we had gotten our food he excused himself AGAIN! WHAT was he up to?!!...And I caught a couple of the staff looking at me funny! Anyway, he finally came back and we finished our meal without incident....if you didn't count the fact that he was STILL looking around a lot..hehehe
But when we got up to leave he started acting really weird..calling me over to the HUGE fireplace in the dining room; trying to act REALLY interested in it. I said, "Yeah....it's really big!....Shall we go now?"
He was acting really antsy and said, "Just a minute...look at it."
I said, "Daniel? It's a fireplace...what is there to look at?"
Finally he said, "Okay..let's go."
I decided I wanted to look around in the gift shop before we left though..to pick up something for my mother. That was fine with him....he went to one display while I went to another.
Now, anyone who knows me knows I love bunnies...and since it was Easter there were plenty around...so when Daniel asked me to come look at a particular display of cards, I figured it was because there were some cute bunny images on them. But when I got to the display and found they were just basic Easter cards I was a bit surprised....he usually knows just what I like so I couldn't figure out why he wanted me to look at them......UNTIL...
The restaurant was equipped with a PA system that they used to call customers to be seated when it was busy, so when the manager came over the PA system I was going to tune it out until he said, "Excuse me...Can I have everyone's attention for a minute? There is a young couple named Dan and Deb over by the Easter display...".....(I turned red and asked Daniel what was going on as he took my hands)....."and Daniel has a question he'd like to ask her"......(Daniel got down on his knee and I thought, "Oh, God!!")......."He wants to know if she will marry him?"
My mouth dropped open......people were murmuring "say 'yes'!"...Everyone was watching with baited breath....but it wasn't a hard decision. I said, "Yes!! Yes! I will!"......Daniel grinned, hugged and kissed me, told me he loved me and the whole restaurant and store cheered!!
From that moment on...until we left the store, we had people patting us on the back, shaking our hands and congratulating us. I was soooooooo embarrassed..but so VERY tickled that he had made the proposal a special one. He is so romantic! It really WAS a perfect weekend. And I'm a VERY lucky lady!!

Scubare says..."I too was in "Never Never Land" all weekend. I wanted to sprinkle fairy dust on myself so I would never lose that wonderful feeling. Every minute spent with Deb was absolute magic. No matter what we did, we had a blast. I have never enjoyed window shopping so much in my life as I did then. We were finding out just how much alike our tastes really were- and it was exciting. She is right- we would both see something, get excited and say "look at this!" and we would both be pointing at the same thing! Anyway...
I had started thinking toward the weekend's "Grand Finale" MUCH sooner. It began as early as Friday's drive with a playful little "what if" scenario running through my mind. It became more serious and began taking shape the next day at the mall while looking at some rings. By then I had made the decision to ask her, the only question(s) was/were when, where...and HOW?! THIS girl definitely deserved more than a run-of-the-mill proposal- not just for the way she makes me feel special, but because SHE is so very special. I didn't have the cash for something showy like a sky writing sign so I had to think, think, think...It came to me Sunday morning as we sat in the simple but appropriately beautiful setting of the restaurant.
I excused myself to go find the manager, under the guise of going to wash up. I explained my idea of proposing over the P.A., but he said the restaurant P.A. was not working. He came up with the idea of having all of the waitresses gather around as if to sing Happy Birthday but make it a proposal instead. We agreed on a signal at which time I would take Deb to the fireplace for the big event. When the time came, I led her to the fireplace and waited...and stalled...and held my breath...but the waitresses never gathered around. Finally, I couldn't stall any longer and we had to leave.
Out in the gift shop I saw the manager and went to talk to him while Deb looked around. He apologized and said they were just too busy to arrange a break in their duties. We pretty much gave up on it, and I thanked him for his efforts then turned to leave. It seemed to hit us both at the same time. I turned back around and we both said "What about the GIFT SHOP P.A.?"
We agreed he would do the honors at the mike while I got Deb over to the Easter card display. As Deb said, it came as a complete surprise and I couldn't have been any happier. Although I was fairly confident what her answer would be, I felt like I'd been hit with lightning when she said, "Yes!"....I hugged her and kissed her as the sound of people cheering and clapping faded into the background...we were together!!!!"

October 30, 2000

That was six months ago. Since that time Daniel has undergone surgery for a recurring shoulder dislocation and has recovered marvelously. We've been to two more concerts....countless shopping trips...viewed tons of pre-fab homes......watched several movies...attended a renaisance festival where we had our picture taken together in period costume (he makes a very regal looking King...hehehe).....and now are in the process of redecorating our future apartment. We are still constantly amazed at how much alike we are and how much better everything is when we share it. Not a day goes by that we don't try to do SOMETHING to make it special. We look forward to a very long future together. And to think it all began with a simple ad.