Our Story (by Jeff)

This morning started like everyone does for me these days. Stephie brought me a cup of coffee in bed and kissed me good morning.

The first thing I ever knew about Stephie was she loved Diet Coke, or at least liked the logo enough to wear the t-shirt. The second was everyone brightened up a few watts whenever she engaged them. How could they not? She had what I would later learn was the “Lewis charm”. When Stephie smiled at you, you were the only person in the room. It was when little Wesley made the scene, though, that I really started to take proper notice.

Stephie and I were volunteers for the same organization. During the business meetings, Wesley’s parents, Steve and Rose, ran the show. Wesley, being a toddler, was having none of it. He would, well, toddle; trying out his new mobility and fussing when mom and dad were doing that boring adult stuff. Stephie just scooped him up without a second thought. He may have been wee, but was no more immune to her charms than anyone else. He quieted right down; you could see how he loved her. I really admired this lady; she was bright, warm, considerate and competent. I also couldn’t help but notice that she was adorable.

“I really like Stephanie, the literature person,” I told my friend Arthur. “Stephanie Levy?” “Yes, that’s her.” Arthur’s a Dutch guy; you could call him phlegmatic. So when he gave me an enthusiastic, “Ja, she’s cute,” I began to know I had found somebody special. What followed was a comedy of errors, and I mean comedy in both senses; it all ended happily and, at least in retrospect, had moments of hilarity. For example…

After several frustrated attempts to strike up a conversation and ask Steph out in person, I tried calling. Oddly, each time I called her number, which I knew from our volunteer efforts, the call immediately dropped. I tried a few times, thinking I wasn’t getting connected properly. Then I called my friend Ben and the same thing happened. He called me back and asked why I had called and hung up on him. “So, what you’re telling me is that I just called the woman I have a crush on three times in a row and hung up each time? Like a stalker?” Ben thought this was a lot funnier than I did. I had begun to think it just wasn’t meant to be.

A few weeks later, I was visiting my family in Ohio for the holidays. It had been a good year and a good day, and I was texting folks in my phone individually, wishing them a merry Christmas. I came upon Stephie’s number. Still uncertain because of the hangup fiasco, I eventually decided, “Why not?”, and sent her a “Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!” She responded right away. After some back and forth, I ended up calling; we spent over an hour on the phone. And then again the next day…

It’s a truism that life’s most worthwhile things aren’t easy, and getting to our first date was no different. I had some personal growth I needed to do to be ready to date somebody as special as Steph. For a while we both thought, due to a “Three’s Company” style misunderstanding, that the other person wasn’t interested. We finally did have that date, during which we survived a near kidnapping. Then another, where Stephie blurted a hilariously inappropriate thing at me in a crowded restaurant. And then another, where I accidentally robbed a Thai restaurant. I had never been happier.

Today is November 10th, 2018 and we have been together 623 days. I got to meet Stephie’s son Jacob and become his homeless, fuzzy, soccer-mom step father (insiders will understand). We’ve shared cross-cultural holidays, traveled to places nearby like Carmel, and as far away as Ocean City New Jersey. We’ve gotten to meet and become a part of each others’ families and circle of friends. It’s all been incredible.

I didn’t think I would be getting married during this, the second half of my life. I was becoming resigned, even contented, to be a happy-go-lucky bachelor. I had friends, family, a solid career and a strong connection with a greater purpose. My life was full. Looking at things now, I can see I didn’t want for anything. That’s why the magic that Stephie brings is such a delight. She’s the most giving, kind, incredible person I know. From the way she hugs me when I get home from work, to the way she tirelessly puts her son’s needs first, to the way she will always help a friend in need when they call, to the way she makes sure I never start a single day without a solid cup of joe.

My life was a glass of fresh, delicious milk. It was simple and satisfying, and I was grateful. Stephie’s the chocolate in my milk. She takes the simple pleasure of life and turns it into something rich and sweet, something to be savored. Turns something ordinary into something extraordinary. Turns this skeptical, old bachelor into an eager groom. Now that I’ve gotten to taste how sweet the days with her are, I am so excited that I get to marry her and savor our time together for the rest of my very lucky life.