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Sweetheart Contest Winner

Doug and I met almost 20 years ago - he was dating my best friend, and I was dating his. He was 18, I was 15. We all drifted apart, like teenage friends typically do. There had always been a spark between us, but neither of us ever acted on it. We were the best of friends. While my boyfriend was away, Doug was with me when I found out I was pregnant, at 15. This amazing man, at 18 years old, was willing to settle down and raise another man's child as his own. There are so few adult men that would do that, let alone an 18 year old. Circumstances forced us to be separated, and we last saw each other in Dec 1993.
Now fast forward to 2010. I had recently split up with my husband (that same boyfriend from 1993) after 13 years in an abusive marriage, and over the years, I had searched for Doug online whenever he came to mind (which now that I look back, was actually quite often!) but never found him, until March 2010, when I had found him on Facebook. Nervous as I was, I still sent a friend request. He accepted. We started chatting online and then by phone. On April 17th, I made the 2 hour drive to see him - in my heart; he was always the one. When I got out of the car, we ran into each others’ arms and he picked me up and swung me around and not wanting to let go. It was like 17 minutes had passed while we were apart; not 17 years. We will be celebrating 2 years together in April, and plan to marry next year.

Doug is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is also the best thing that has ever happened to our 17 year old son. Doug has been more of a dad to him than his biological father was in 17 years.

Our life isn't easy. We also have our 13 year old son who is severely physically and mentally disabled and requires 24 hours a day nursing care. His life expectancy was actually 10-12 years, so we're grateful for every day that we have with him and we see each extra day as a gift. We made the difficult decision to place him in a nursing facility last year. Doug was laid off just before Christmas, and was barely making it financially, but somehow we always manage. He has back issues that need surgery, but he doesn't have insurance. Yet he still works sometimes 60 hour weeks at an intensely physical job (when he’s not laid off) to support his family, often coming home at night in such pain that he can barely speak. He truly is an amazing man. I have fibromyalgia, as well as other medical issues, that prevent me from working.

But we are a family. We got what most never do, a second chance with that one person we could never forget, the one that we sometimes wonder how it would have been if it had lasted, or even wished that it had – our first “true love”. Despite all of our troubles and stress, neither of us would trade it for the world. In that sense, we truly are blessed to have each other and our wonderful sons, who have an amazing relationship with the man they consider their dad.
I wanted so badly to surprise him this Valentine's Day with a couple’s massage or spa day, but with him only working the few small side jobs he can find, it’s just not in the budget - not even close. I’d thought with us both having back & pain issues, plus being so tense from stress, massages would be a perfect gift. Being able to do this for him would mean the world to me. So when I saw the ad for the contest, I just knew I had to enter. I will keep on praying that my sweetheart and I somehow miraculously win this contest!!! I’m grateful for the chance to enter!!!

Kelly Pickett
Kelly and Doug will be enjoying a lovely massage for two at our Skin ‘n Tonic Suite for Two this February.

We would like to take this time and thank everyone who had shared their love stories during our second annual “Sweetheart Essay Contest”.