The first time I met Maria I was at my sister's wedding reception. I don't know but there was something about that girl that made my want to know her...magic maybe? Who knows? Although it was a day of happiness for my sister I was feeling a little low ( hmmmm that's another story ). I didn't get a chance to talk to her much that day, just a simple greeting and congratulation, thing like that....but I couldn't help following her around with my eyes and it took my mind off my problems. After the wedding I went home but I didn't forget Maria. BTW I think I should tell you before going any further that my sister was marrying her brother. *G*

A few weeks after the wedding I decided to visit my sister and her husband. I was also hoping to run into

Maria *SMILE*. As I got closer to the house I saw someone on a horse, riding like a crazy person, and to a city slicker like me it seemed like the horse was out of control. But I soon saw I was wrong. Rather it was the person who was riding the horse was the one out of control! *LOL* I guess you're already thinking who I'm talking about here *G*. My sister and her husband didn't know that I was coming so...guess what...they were not at home. I stood in front of their house and scratched my head. There was no way I was going to drive back home because it would have taken me another 5 hours! I must have been looking kind off lost trying to figure out what I was going to do. I didn't notice Maria there until she stands right in front of me giggling like a 16 year old. She said she had been talking to me but obviously I didn't hear her. I was a bit embarrassed but we started talking and when I think about it it's amazing how relaxed I was. After all she was the real reason for me to be there. *G* Soon Maria and I became very close. We did a lot of things together and it didn't seem as a surprise to anyone when we got engaged and planed a wedding date, March 18th 1995. In October 1994 we started making plans for the wedding....it was going to be perfect for both of us.