FEBRUARY 2007

popping the question
Creative ways to propose marriage
BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO
Although there are various opinions on the
origin of Valentine’s Day, it has become
one of the most popular days of the year
to propose marriage. Already focused on romance
and love, Valentine’s Day is a most appropriate
time to promise to spend your life with another.
Some experts believe the holiday originated
from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred
for refusing to give up Christianity. He died
on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that
had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend
also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note
for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his
friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.”
Gradually, February 14 became the date for
exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became
the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by
sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There
was often a social gathering or a ball. In the United
States, Esther Howland is given credit for sending the
first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were
introduced in the 1800s.
Panning to pop the big question on February
14? Take inspiration from other couples’ stories.
After meeting through mutual friends, Lydia
Shamoo and Derick Kassab dated for nearly two
years. Lydia and some of her gal pals traveled to
Chicago for Labor Day. That Sunday night, the
girls gussied up for a typical night on the town, but
everyone wanted to go to the Navy Pier instead.
“When we got there, I spotted a group of guys who
looked very familiar. Sure enough, it was Derick,
my friend Michelle’s fiancé Brian, and my other
friend Sandy’s husband Jeff,” Lydia said. “I was
shocked to see them there.”
The couples played some games, rode a few rides
and then decided to go on the Ferris wheel. Each
couple was supposed to ride in their own cart;
Derick and Lydia got in the first one. The other two
couples jumped in the next one, saying they only
had two tickets so had to ride that way.
Anxious to capture the moment, Lydia began
snapping photos of the view. At the top, the ride
ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK
came to a sudden stop, and she turned to find
Derick on bended knee with a ring in his hand.
“Lyd,” he said, “I could never imagine a day going
by without you in it. I would love to spend the rest
of my life with you … will you marry me?”
“At that very moment, I couldn’t be happier,”
Lydia said. “He was everything I was looking for in a
husband. And thanks to my friends recording it in
the cart behind us, I will always be able to look back
at that day and remember exactly how happy I was.”
The two will marry this summer at St. Thomas
Church with a reception to follow at Shenandoah
Country Club.
Lisa Kashat , then 18, had no clue that she
would meet her husband at what seemed to be a
chance encounter at a pizza place in Royal Oak.
She was visiting a friend, Randy Dickow, at his
store when the two decided to grab lunch. He sent
Lisa to the pizza place nearby, which turned out
to be mobbed. Owner Ronnie Yaldoo, who
was trying to handle the crowds,
asked if Lisa was Randy’s friend and
when she said yes, he put her to work.
“Will you come back here and help
me?” he asked her. “My worker called in
sick today.”
Lisa, nearly speechless, was able to
muster up the word, “sure,” and Ronnie
directed her to register. After the crowd
dispersed, Lisa made herself a sandwich.
Later that day, Ronnie asked Randy to set
the two of them up, and the couple ended
up dating for nearly two years.
Attending Piston games became part of
their routine. When they headed to the
Palace of Auburn Hills on December 21,
2004, it seemed like a typical date.
“When we got there I was in shock
because all of our friends were there,” Lisa
said. “Everywhere I turned I would see one
of his friends or one of mine. Even my sister was
there.”
During the third quarter, it was announced that
the team was giving away an autographed basketball.
Lisa noticed Hooper, the Pistons mascot, coming
her way, “but, I thought no way, why would he
come to me out of thousands of people? But he kept
coming closer until he stood in front of me, so finally
I got up. Hooper handed me the ball, which read
‘Lisa, will you marry me?’ I was so surprised that for
one second I thought Hooper was asking me to
marry him, then he turned the ball and it said
‘Love, Ronnie.’ It was the most amazing moment
of my life. This was something I had never even
imagined would happen.”
The two married on April 16, 2005. “It was,”
said Lisa, “a true fairytale.”
32 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2007