Here is a story not very meaningful to those who have not read this series.

When I proposed to my wife in 1987, I did so at a gathering of her extended
family, at her father's home in LA (Lower Alabama).

To allay any possible suspicions, I told her that my best friend was there
simply because I didn't see him often, and since we were closer to him than
normal (he lived in Florida) I had asked him to come up.

Of course, the truth was that he had something important to do.

All of my wife's family knew that there would be something of note happening,
but only her father knew for sure just what, as I had provided him with a
script, so that he knew how to respond.

After the lunch, as the whole clan was gathering in the living room, my friend
boomed out, "Judge Webb, may I have your attention?" Upon receiving his (as
well as everyone else's), he proceeded to give the entire proposal speech
originally delivered by Tegid, with only a few changes and no embellishments,
and with the judge and myself doing our respective parts.

My wife was the only other person in the room who knew exactly what was
happening, and she knew as soon as my best friend opened his mouth.

I must say, after all these years, that the sun still rises in the eyes of the
judge's daughter.


Dave Kelsen.