Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt
This story took place almost 20 years ago and brought you, the readers, up to present days. I was blessed and wanted to share with you.
Born and raised in New Jersey, I decided to spread my wings to an unknown location. I headed south on the freeway until I reached Virginia, which seemed to be an ideal state to settle a while with Christmas near. I believed Santa would find me no matter where I moved. And my prayers and wishes were always the same. Santa, please find me a wonderful gentleman to spend Christmas and every day of our lives together.
I arrived in the State of Virginia, and at this point, I received sad news on my travels. My mom, who raised me and looked after me, became ill in New Jersey. Still on the road, I found a restaurant to stop in and share my inner thoughts with God while I had some nourishment, knowing He would pave the way for me. As I looked away for a second from my dinner plate, he walked not only into this restaurant but into my heart. His name is John. We introduced ourselves, and as the evening progressed, I explained my situation about returning back to New Jersey to be with my mom. Knowing John for only a short time, he offered to drive me several times to New Jersey to visit her. Somehow, when my mom met John, she knew he was the one. By that time, we both had retired from the federal government and our income decreased significantly, and we managed for a little time in that environment for a couple of years. Therefore, the cost of living and weather in the Washington, D.C., area were a huge factor in our decision to move elsewhere. A change of address was in the near future. John commented during our search for new horizons, “We will put an ice scraper on the dashboard in our car, and the first person who asks, ‘What is that?’ we are moving there.” Our direction turned west, and we arrived in Chandler, Ariz. On our first Christmas in our new home, John proposed marriage to me. It was the happiest Christmas ever for both John and me.
New in our surroundings and not knowing many people, we decided to marry in Virginia. My brother, a priest, officiated the service. A few weeks after we returned to Chandler, we continued to live in our beautiful home for nine years. After many drives over to Sun Lakes and within the different communities, we found a home that worked for us and sold our Chandler home. We spent wonderful and blessed Christmases here. To our dear friends and neighbors we see each and every day, may the wish you make today always bring you happiness and the best of health.
P.S.: My mom had passed away before our wedding. I made my gown from my mother’s. Thank you, Mom.