The story of Don and Maria (A Love Story)
I first met Maria in 10th grade when we were both 15 years old. I had just transferred from a strict all-boys Catholic High School to the public high school in our small town in Pennsylvania.
One morning while sitting in homeroom, I saw the most beautiful girl any boy could imagine. She had beautiful, long, dark hair that reached to her waist and the most beautiful, dark, brown eyes that just left me speechless. For me, this was definitely "love at first sight."
I approached her and since I was new in the class, I introduced myself. I told her that "I thought she was beautiful and someday I would marry her." She looked at me with a confused stare and said, "Are you crazy? Get lost!" These were the first words exchanged between us. I guess one could say it was not a very good start.
Eventually, I broke down many barriers of her thinking I was crazy. I never gave up and two years later we became very serious in our love for each other. At the young and immature age of nineteen, I bought a diamond engagement ring. During the Christmas of 1954, I gave Maria a beautiful bride doll with the diamond ring attached to the arm. At first, she did not see the ring and said the doll was beautiful and then exclaimed, "Oh my God, a diamond ring!"
Unfortunately, in the month of March of 1955, I received a letter from the government stating that I was to be drafted into the military for two years. I entered the service and volunteered to join the 101st Airborne division of World War II fame. I received an additional $50.00 per month for parachuting out of airplanes in hopes of saving money for our marriage when I returned.
One day toward the end of my first year in the service, I received a letter from my intended bride Maria. She said that she could no longer sit home every night waiting for me to return. Also, she met someone and felt she was falling in love with him. The remainder of my time in the service was painful for me. I attended church every Sunday and prayed that she would someday return to me.
When I was in my last 90 days before discharge from the service, I received the letter from Maria that I had prayed for. She said she realized that I was the only one she truly loved and asked that when I came home, would I ask her to marry me. Would I ask her to marry me? Does the sun rise every morning, do flowers smell of perfume, are the summer months hot and the winter months cold? There was nothing more important to me than marrying my Maria.
We wed on September 20, 1958. This September 20th, we will celebrate 50 years of wedding bliss. Our love has produced 4 beautiful children, who in turn have given us ten beautiful grandchildren.
Even after 50 years, I still had one more surprise for Maria. My daughter took me to Benari Jewelers at the Exton Square in Pennsylvania. There I purchased an exquisite diamond wedding band for my wife. After all, her last wedding band was fifty years old. We renewed our vows on July 20, 2008. As we exchanged our vows, I suddenly realized how much I loved Maria, and while I placed the ring on her finger I could not control my emotions and tears filled my eyes.
We hope that in someway those who are planning marriage will understand that true love will eventually overcome all obstacles. I have my love, my life, my Maria.
- Don
BENARI Client