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November 2006 -
Carol Gafford and Rick
Mullet get Married!
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On Saturday,
November 4, long-time sweethearts
Rick Mullet and Carol Gafford were
married in a ceremony held at the
home of their friends Tom and
Margaret Easley.
All four people are very close
friends of mine, so I will speak
candidly - this was a wedding I've
been waiting for a long time!
As the legend goes, Carol was at
Midnight Rodeo one night around 1993 with
her friends Tom
and Margaret. That is when
Rick's twin brother Nick dropped
over to introduce his brother Rick
to Tom, Margaret, and Carol.
Carol took one look at Rick and told
him he ought to cut his ponytail.
Rick disappeared shortly after.
A few months later, Tom threw one
his famous water volleyball parties.
He invited Nick and Rick over to
play. I was there too. That
was when I first met Rick and
Nick. I didn't like them much
at first. I was mad
because my team kept losing to them all day long!
Carol was there too. Although
she never plays, she provides a
marvelous poolside distraction in
her bathing suit. I never can
decide which side she should sit on
- would I rather watch her or gain a
real edge on the other team by
making them watch her?
Well, apparently when the Rick and
Carol saw
each other in their bathing suits,
sparks began to fly. Suddenly
that ponytail and that smart mouth
didn't seem quite as big an obstacle
any more.
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Rick and Carol starting
going together soon after.... and going
together... and going together...
somewhere along there the story changed to
being engaged... and being engaged... and
being engaged.
One day I teased them about the longest
engagement in history. That's when they told
me 'they just wanted to be sure'. That
day was about five years ago. In all,
Rick and Carol have been together now for
thirteen years!
Along the way, I have discovered that my
former water volleyball opponents are two of
the nicest guys in the world. These
two brothers are great friends to have.
Which is why I am thrilled that Carol and
Rick finally got married - they are so great
together!
This is the
first marriage for both Rick and Carol. I wish them all the luck in the world.
They are my wonderful friends and I am
really happy for them.
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Nick, Carol, and his brother
Rob |
The Twins |
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Nick and his lovely
girlfriend Sheila |
The ever beautiful Margaret
and the always handsome Tom |
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Carol and Rick Archer |
Margie Saibara and Ted Jones |
Rick and Carol's First Dance |
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October 2006 -
Larry
Thomas and
Pam Cochran get Married!
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-----Original Message-----
From: Pamela Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
9:59 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: slow dance and romance
Larry/Pam Wedding Picture
Rick, its official. Larry & Pam were married
on
October 8, 2006!
All the kids were there!
Thanks for another successful SSQQ Romance.
It all began in your beginning
two-step class.
We are now Larry & Pam Thomas.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Pam
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September 2006 -
Chuck Snyder and Dena Jackson get Married!
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From: Dena
Snyder
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:04
PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Wedding Pics
Hey Rick,
As I was reading your latest
newsletter, I realized I told you
about our engagement, but never
reported back on our wedding. Gotta
keep the SSQQ Romance stats up!
Chuck and I met in Ben's Beginning
Two Step class in February 2002, and
he was the first guy to ask me to
dance when Ben told us to partner
up. We were friends for several
months before we started dating that
May. We were married on September
30, 2006. Here are a few pictures
from our wedding and first dance.
Evidently Ben's class was a big hit
- there was another marriage that
also originated there (Philip
Ritchie and Kathy Fink).
And, by the way,
my
advice to anyone who complains about
not having a special someone is
always... go to SSQQ!
We plan to brush up on our dancing
skills this year, and hope to see
you at the studio soon!
Dena Jackson and Chuck Snyder
Rick Archer's
Note: Chuck and Dena
met in February 2002, then joined us for the
August 2002 Rhapsody
Cruise. But that was the last time
I saw them. As you can see,
their courtship covered 4
years (2002-2006). Since the
final three years of their courtship
took place away from the studio, I
would never have known their
complete story if Dena had been not
kind enough to check in 2 1/2 years
later to report about their wedding
.
I call this phenomenon "Flying
Under the Radar" - couples
who meet at the studio, then
disappear to pursue other
activities. The story of Chuck
and Dena is a perfect example why I
believe the true wedding
totals at SSQQ are probably
under-reported by 20%. For
every 4 couples I know about, there
is a fifth couple that met at the
studio and moved on without a trace.
Or maybe they reported the
engagement, but got busy and forgot
to tie up the loose end. This
explains why I emphasize
including "engagements" in my total
just in case I don't hear
about the "wedding"
further down the road. For
example, Chuck and Dena were listed
on my site as "engaged", but it took
three years to add in this final
piece of the puzzle. Since I
take so much pride in the studio's
uncanny ability to help create
matches, it makes me very happy to bring closure to
Chuck and Dena's
wonderful story.
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From the 2002 SSQQ Rhapsody Cruise
First Dance at Chuck and Dena's
2006 Wedding
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August 2006 -
John Otts and
Cynthia Hall get Married!
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I first met John and Cynthia on the 2005
Rita Rhapsody Cruise. That trip was
only 3 days long, so I am sorry to say I
barely had time to learn their names, much
less get to know them.
I was told that John and Cynthia were hoping
to get married in Cozumel on the 2006
Rhapsody Cruise, but when I saw John on the
first day on board the ship, he said that he
and Cynthia had already gotten married.
This trip would be their Honeymoon.
Of course I smiled and congratulated him,
but there was clearly something bothering
John. I asked what was the matter.
John replied that Cynthia was so sick she
couldn't even leave her cabin! He was
worried out of his mind. I felt so
sorry for both of them!
It was not until Monday that we finally saw
Cynthia. She made her first appearance
in that stunning blue dress.
You could not ask for a more beautiful
bride.
Congratulations to both! RA
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June 2006 -
John Moniz and Shey Tekulve get Married!
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On Saturday, June 17,
John Moniz and Shey Tekulve were married in
a small ceremony held at John's home.
At the wedding were his parents, five
brothers and sisters, and several nieces and
nephews. Representing Shey's side of
the family were her mother, her children,
her two sisters, and a string of 7
look-a-like nieces. For a moment, I thought
we had the Von Trapp Family in "Sound of
Music" here at the wedding!
John and Shey met in
Sharon Crawford Shaw's Western Waltz class a
couple years back. Because dancing was
how they met and a big part of their
courtship, John and Shey decided to take
their Wedding Dance seriously. They took
several Tango lessons in preparation for
their Wedding dance. Their preparation paid
off - they looked like professionals out on
the floor. To my surprise, they also
danced a Western Waltz as well. I have never
seen a couple perform two Wedding dances
before!
Naturally the guests were awe-struck.
John and Shey put on quite a show!
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May 2006 -
Barbara St. Lawrence and Kent
Carson get Married!
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May 2006 -
Sorrell Warren and Penney
Godwin get Married!
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-----Original Message-----
From: Penney Godwin
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:43 AM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: we got married!
Rick,
I am happy to announce another engagement
that SSQQ can take full credit for. Sorrell
Warren and I are engaged and will be married
on May 20, 2006, in Galveston.
We met in July of 2004 at the Western
Hoedown Party. I spent what seemed like
hours chasing him around to break the
balloons on his ankles and get the "bounty"
you were offering. I never did catch him.
(well, I guess really did catch him, didn't
I?)
We started dating right after the party and
as they say, the rest is history.
Thanks for playing Cupid.
Penney Godwin
(Editor's Note: Re cupid,
you are most welcome! :-)
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May 2006 -
Gonzalo
Manuel and
Claudia
Guererro
get Married!
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-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Cook
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 9:48 AM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: gonz and claudia
Gonzalo and Claudia were married yesterday
(May 21) with just
the immediate family at the ministers house.
They will have another in November for their
many friends and family. It was lovely and
they will celebrate their anniversary on
both dates.
Linda
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March 2006 -
Wil Uecker and Karen
Fess get Married!
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Please add one of my
favorite couples to the legendary list of
SSQQ Slow Dance and Romance. They
never cease to amaze me.
About two weeks ago as I was putting the
finishing touches on my Matchmaker Story, I
mentioned this
Wil and
Karen in Chapter 6 as an example of
a couple that didn't meet at SSQQ (they met
through match.com), but spent most of their
courtship here. I said that if SSQQ
was a big part in sealing the deal, I would
claim them.
And claim them I did! I discovered
they were at the studio two or three nights
a week for practically their entire
courtship! If you read my article, you
see that I was astounded to discover they
had taken 20 dance classes together in less
than a year.
Wow.
So just teasing around, I decided maybe it
was about time to offer them a free lesson
as a 'thank you' for being such great
customers. So on Thursday, March 23,
2006, I made an effort to type up a gift
certificate for them since I knew they would
be in dance class that night.
They were a little late getting to class,
but I was so pleased to see them I rushed
over to hand them my gift certificate.
They smiled and said, "Gee, thanks!"
Judging by the blank looks on their faces,
they did not seem to know why I was doing
this. I had a hunch they did not know
that I had written a story about them.
It didn't matter because it was the thought
that counts and I was really happy to reward
them.
Then in the middle of class a few minutes
later one of my students said, "Hey Rick,
did you know that Wil and Karen got married
today?"
I was stupefied. No kidding? It
had only been a month since they told me
they were engaged! These guys don't
mess around!
But what was most amazing was they were here
for dance class on the first night of their
marriage!!
What an honor to be made a part of their
Wedding Day!!
I asked Karen about the Wedding. She
said it was super fun and gave her a chance
to see all of her family. Karen said
it was especially rewarding to see how much
her children liked Wil. In fact,
it was their respect for them that made her
realize just how special a man he is.
With that, I knew this couple was perfect
for each other. What a marvelous thing
to say.
Not only did I grin from ear to ear all
night long, I had a field day with jokes.
For example, I asked the class if anyone was
getting married soon. Where there any
another announcements? I made eye
contact with several couples who had met at
the studio and were dating. They
recoiled from my gaze in fear!
Another time I told Wil to dance with Karen
an extra time during rotation. One of the
guys quipped, "Why don't they have to
switch?"
I asked him if he had gotten married that
day. When he said he hadn't, I
replied, "Well, let me know when you get
married and I won't make you switch for the
entire class."
I also told the class from now on I expected
the SAME COMMITMENT to dance class that Wil
and Karen had. I said I didn't care if
they broke a leg, had a flat tire, or had
Astros World Series tickets, I expected them
in dance class anyway. Let Wil and
Karen be your example! Everyone
then gave our Wedding Couple the obligatory
dirty looks for making the rest of the class
seem like goof-offs by comparison.
Quite frankly, no matter how extensive our
history of romances has been, we have never
been graced with a couple spending their
Honeymoon at the studio before.
Yes, I had a lot of fun in that dance class
that night thanks to Wil and Karen. I
am so happy for both of them!
One more thing - Wil and Karen are just the
latest examples of an important SSQQ rule -
be careful what you wear to the Halloween
Party; your picture might just turn up in
your SSQQ wedding album.
My love to both. ;-)
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March 2006 -
Erica Keast and David Heroy get Married!
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-----Original Message-----
From: Erica Keast
Sent: Wednesday, January 25,
2006 8:55 AM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: slow dance and
romance David Heroy and Erica Keast
I have another wedding….
David Heroy and Erica Keast
David and I met at
SSQQ back in September 2003.
We got engaged in March 2005
and we are getting married in March
2006.
Thank you SSQQ!!!!!
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January 2006 -
John Sartain and
Becky Stinson get Married!
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-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
To: John Sartain
Sent: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:35:44 -0600
Subject: checking in
Hi John,
I was doing an article on my matchmaking
duties at the studio and realized I
had not followed up on your
engagement story from a year ago. How are
you and Becky
getting along? (Hint hint).
Hope you are well!
-----Original Message-----
From: John
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 8:49 AM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: checking in
Hi Rick,
It's good to hear from you. We've been
really busy over the last six months or so
and haven't gotten back to dancing class
although we still go every now and then over
to Wild West. We got married in January and
it's been great. We took a short honeymoon
to Las Vegas and had a great time accept we
came back a little lighter in the pocket
book. Anyway, we've been talking about
getting back to SSQQ and we probably will
sometime in the near future. Hope all is
well and we'll see you soon.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:40 AM
To: John
Subject: RE: checking in
I am so happy for both of you!! Sorry Vegas
wasn't more cooperative, but I am sure you
had a great time!
Thanks for the great news!
One more thing… Maybe you
could email me a couple pictures from the
wedding? Otherwise our Romance page is going
to be stuck with your amazing hippie outfits
from Halloween 2004!!
Rick
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-----Original Message-----
From: Lin Mills
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 10:07
AM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Becky & John Sartain -
Wedding
Rick,
Noticed you had suggested Becky &
John send you a replacement pic for
their Wedding Page. Not that
their Halloween photo shouldn't
remain in place; that one is purely
a classic!
I've attached a few recent pics --
maybe a bit more recognizable as
Becky & John.
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