25 years ago this very night, Diane Lou Mariano agreed to be my wife !. Diane was doing her masters of Electronics at Southampton University while I worked at IBM’s UK Labs in Hursley. We were living in Winchester in southern England. I chose today because my lucky numer was (and still is ) 911… We were busy on Sept 11, but decided today , Nove 9th would work just as well because in england.. they write the dates backwards from us. There today is 9/11
   We went to the Chessil Rectory. an old 16th century Rectory that was a really nice resturant.. After dinner we walked home along the river ..it was raining a little. I got down on my knee and asked Diane to marry me.. I slipped a ring on her finger that I had made out of steel in my blacksmithing class.. not too pretty.. it not bI ad for soemthing you made with a hammer and fire.. Tasked her to marry me.. then we traded places.. she got down on her knee and asked me.. I think she had to put the ring on my little finger to get it to fit..
   We’ve covered many. many miles in the past 25 years.. a wonderful mix of love and laughter and tears.. i wouldn’t trade a moment of it.
   I feel so lucky to have found my mate.. ! I love you Diane.

note folks, nite sam
-me