Patricia

  The Match that Almost Didn't Happen as told by Patricia Vince and I met on a dating website. Vince had just created his profile; I was just about to take mine down when he contacted me. I found him handsome and his e-mails charming, but was skeptical about online dating. After a week of phone tag (exacerbated by a lost cell phone and a revolving set of temporary numbers), I finally got hold of a live person. "Vince?" I tentatively inquired. "Wrong number!" The vehement reply, followed by a click. Miffed, I sent off a quick e-mail chastising his maturity. "If you'd changed your mind, you simply could have said so, not hung up on me." Vince was quick to reply, begging forgiveness. He had given me his friend's number, who apparently had forgotten his relaying duties. I hesitated as I read this, staring into the vivid blue eyes of his profile picture. I found my resolve softening. When we finally established voice contact, we set up a first date at Radegast Hall in Brooklyn. Vince was a perfect gentleman and I quickly warmed to his honest, charismatic personality and our shared interests. Vince later told me that one of his favorite moments was when, after over an hour of smelling the tantalizing aromas of homecooked German sausages, I shyly asked if he was hungry. He loved that I wasn't afraid to eat in front of him. We were smitten. Three days after our first date, Vince introduced me to his father; I met his mother and loyal Labrador Farley shortly thereafter. After two and a half months (having planned for several weeks), Vince and I drove to see my family in Pennsylvania. On the last day, he shyly asked my father for my hand (who promptly grinned and welcomed him into the family). Six months after our eventful first date, Vince formally proposed on top of a mountain overlooking the Hudson River and Hook Mountain. I was surprised and elated, and loved that he'd selected the outdoors for the occasion. He later explained that he wanted our upcoming week in Atlantis to be as fiances, not just boyfriend and girlfriend. I couldn't have found anyone more right for me than him and hope only to make him as happy and fulfilled as he makes me. Eleven months later, we still laugh about the "wrong number" incident- that friend is now a groomsman- and about the date that almost didn't happen.