Camille's Badges

Our story is very unique and extremely special. I was a young man born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Dreams of playing collegiate basketball at the... View More

Our story is very unique and extremely special. I was a young man born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Dreams of playing collegiate basketball at the University of Pittsburgh led me and my caravan of family members to Pitt's campus in June of 1988. Camille had just completed her freshman year at nearby Westminster College and she along with her mother, were accompanying her niece, to Pitt's campus as well. The meeting place for all students selected for the Quest summer program had gathered in the student union. At some point, I recalled my uncle, say, "Wow, well she didn't like that at all." Not realizing it, years later I concluded I must've accidentally taken Camille's seat at a table. Approximately one week passed and I was approached by her niece, who was unusually quiet and secretive. She said to me, "Andre, my aunt wants to talk to you." Reluctantly, I agreed, not remembering who exactly her aunt was. I remember being extremely nervous the day I got a call in my dorm room from her niece to come downstairs into the lobby. Upon laying my eyes upon her, I was immediately captivated with her beauty, her class and her maturity. It didn't take me long to realize that I was in the presence of my very first true love. The summer of 1988 was absolutely magical. We were inseparable. I felt like I was living in a fantasy world having found love and pursuing my dream to play basketball. We laughed, we kissed, we held hands and really enjoyed each other's company. However, by summer's end Camille was returning to college and sadly we parted ways. Miraculously, after a long 29 year hiatus of sorts, I was settled in my career as a California Highway Patrol Officer, and active in my church as an ordained minister, when Camille suddenly came to mind as I was scrolling through Facebook feeds. I wondered what had ever happened to her. I reached out to her in the spirit of friendship not expecting the old flame to reignite. She happily responded to my message with excitement. We shared stories of life, love and pain. We shared experiences of marriage and divorce and a friendship was birthed. Not long after our friendship, was it that we realized that our reconnection was not by chance, but God was up to something. The romance was rekindled. The day following her cousins wedding on September 29th 2019 amongst her family I got on bended knee and proposed to the love of my life. I am so excited about our future together as man and wife and as one big happy family. -Andre'