‘Hark now hear the sailors cry’, the sailor was Jason and the one who heard his cry was Katy. Like a warm, comforting breeze off the ocean or a calm in the middle of a stormy sea, Katy entered Jay’s life and they have brought each other nothing but love, happiness and joy. Their first meal together – a delicious lunch of macaroni and cheese and a glass of Riesling wine convinced these two hearts that they were made for each other. After years of fruitless searches and endless heartache they finally found each other and more importantly found love. Sadly, the sea called Jay again and one month after meeting in person, Jay left for a deployment to the Persian Gulf. Like any good love story, they had to spend some time apart. Through God’s grace and the help of technology Jay and Katy kept in touch with daily emails, cards, letters and an occasional phone call. When the foghorn finally announced Jay’s arrival home after 7 long months at sea, Jay – proudly wearing his dress blue uniform with his sea bag on his back – returned to Katy. As he always prayed for, Katy was there waiting on the pier. They continued their long-distance relationship, each knowing that they were made for each other. This past summer, Katy flew up to visit Jay and his family in Pittsburgh. One night, on their way to meet his family downtown for drinks and dinner, Jay took Katy to the West End Overlook. As they were enjoying the private park and the phenomenal views of the city, Katy was telling Jay how beautiful it was and how they should come back there each time they were in town. At that moment, Jay got down on one knee and proposed. He told Katy that she was waiting at the pier when he came home from his deployment, and that he always wanted her waiting for him on the pier. In other words, he wanted to come home to her everyday for the rest of his life. She said ‘Yes!’ (Although he had to ask her twice because she was too excited to get the ring on her finger and didn’t hear him the first time). Jay has since moved on to the Air Force, crossing into the blue and into a career in Intelligence. Jay continues to wear his country’s uniform with pride and enthusiasm, and will most certainly wear his wife’s ring with the same amount of pride, dedication and love. Katy continues to change and touch lives everyday as a schoolteacher. Katy and Jay are enjoying their engagement and look forward to spending the rest of their lives together. They are no doubt heading for that perfect horizon: where the sun and sea meet, revealing a glimpse of heaven on Earth. Sketched in the sand, perhaps by the angels themselves, it is written ‘Katy and Jay… HAPPILY EVER AFTER!’
