The benlisastory, how two people can be lucky in love

   It was late October 2009, when I met her. The sun was teasing me while laying at the pool, enjoying the last days of my vacation in Jamaica. A light breeze from the South-East blew over, typical for the afternoon. A perfect day seemed to fade slowly away; a relaxing day away from work and stress of the city seemed to end peacefully. She was sitting on a little island in the middle of the pool, reading, sipping at her drink. The sun was drying the water pearls running down her tanned body. She smiled.

   Two years later, USN Petty Officer First Class Lisa Evensen wrote a letter to enter a “Dream Wedding” provide by the Bay Area Bridal Association. The contest was announced as a competition for military personnel. Her letter stated, “On Oct. 28, 2009, Ben, who was in the German Navy and I …met on vacation in Jamaica. We hit it off, and …spent every and any opportunity together over the next five months. I have never met a better man: he is handsome, very kind, strong and sweet. He is my angel. He took my son Cody and I into his heart, and calls us his family.”

   We considered May or June 2012 to be the right time to make the promise to each other. On Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, I asked Lisa to marry me while enjoying ourselves on a Tampa Bay dinner cruise. Her son Cody was with us, commenting the whole event including me “doing all the romantic stuff,” said Cody.

   Almost simultaneously, we received an email saying, “Out of the over 100+ military couples, the final three couples have been chosen and are in the final round. A jury will now pick the winning couple on Tuesday October 4, 2011.” We were one of the three remaining lucky in love couples.

   When we arrived at the Hilton Gardens Inn Tampa Airport on that Tuesday morning and Laura Moody from Fox 13 and other involved vendors and officials arrived, but no other couple. Lisa and I got a little confused, actually nervous might be the better word. Waiting in the breakfast area of the Hotel, sitting between guests having their breakfasts, getting constantly asked
questions and listening to supposed to be funny comments from the directors of the BABA did not calm us down, nor did anything seem to be in place or time.

   At a certain point, over an hour of waiting later, one of the directors led us to the assigned conference room to bring us to the jury. The doors of the conference room were closed. The doors opened and flash lights, cameras and microphones
seemed to be everywhere and choir like the word ”surprise” was shouted at us, “you guys are the winning couple.” So John Ward, director of the BABA.

   Lisa could not help it, tears of happiness started running down her cheekbones. She fell into my arms and pressed herself on me. I held her tight, knowing this is going to be the beginning of our future together. Even today, we are still astonished.