A fairy-tale page right out of a story book, some people might say, but the story, as it is told, is about magic and the spirit of true and everlasting love. Please, take a moment, find a comfy seat, relax, and enjoy their story because after all, fairy tales do come true. Here is their story.

Sandy and Ray meet on “OUR TIME”, an internet dating site for men and women over 50. Sandy, a widow and Ray, a widower both seek to find companionship, nothing more and nothing less, just a simple, harmless dinner date. A date that almost didn’t happen. It began on Friday, April 19, 2024, but first, we must go back in time to Monday, April 15, 2024.

It was April 7, 2024, Sandy took a much-needed vacation to visit her friends in Arkansas, USA to witness the solar eclipse and its totality. Ray sent text messages every day to Sandy delivering prayers for her safe travels and posting heartfelt thoughts. Ray religiously sent texts notifying Sandy she was in his daily thoughts. Sandy would respond to Ray’s texts but not always in a timely fashion. Hours would turn into days and still no response from Sandy.

Despite being on vacation, Sandy wasn’t trying to be rude but rather cautious when replying but on Monday, April 15, 2024, Ray sent his last and final text. The text read:

“Hi Sandy. I hope you are well. I've been thinking about you. I haven't heard from you. I don't know if It's because you are still sick, or if you're not interested anymore, you think we're not compatible, or if it's a situation throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I know you've been bothered and hurt by those scammers and so have I. But that's not me and if you give me a chance, I can show that to you.”

After reading the message Sandy was enraged by the text! Why you ask? Well, Sandy didn’t quite understand the analogy behind “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” and her mere thought of Ray was, he was a sick man! Who in their right mind throw’s a baby out with the bath water? Sandy immediately called Ray to give him a piece of her mind and to remind him how dare he dump Sandy because he had no clue what kind of "good catch", she really was! The moment Ray received the call from Sandy the poor man couldn’t get a word in until Sandy was completely out-of-breath. Ray was at work and couldn’t talk but assured Sandy; he would call her later that evening once he was off work. As promised, Ray made the call and, in his defense, carefully explained the contents of his text message.

From that moment forward Sandy and Ray talked enthusiastically every morning, afternoon, and night. They talked about anything and everything. Each day brought them closer together and bits and pieces of their lives intertwined. The more they talked, the more they had in common, such as interests and hobbies. Most interestingly, was the coincidences each other shared. For example: Ray and Sandy both have their birthdays in May. Ray is a trainer; breeder & owner of miniature collies (Shelties) and Sandy grew up with collies & shelties. Ray gifted his late wife with a red barn because she was a country girl who loved red barns. Sandy has the exact red barn in her backyard her father built for her & her sister as a playhouse. The more Ray and Sandy engaged in conversation the more their lives became parallel to one another. Coincidence you think. Nope. It’s pure magnetism and the paranormal of two people floating in life and magically colliding. There’s no science involved, just two pure spiritual souls uniting. About now you’re probably thinking this story is half fiction & half non-fiction but be certain this love story is just beginning.

Jumping forward to Friday, April 19, 2024, a dinner date was planned at 4:00 p.m. (Sandy is old and likes to eat early) at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Overland Park, Kansas. Sandy arrived early just in case Ray turned out to be someone else other than the person from his ‘OUR TIME” profile. Sure enough, Ray arrived promptly and on time! As he walked through the door, Sandy sat in amazement how detailed he matched according to his pictures. Ray was real, so real in fact Sandy got up and walked over to welcome Ray with a warm hug. As she hugged Ray (with a sigh of relief) a scent of peppermint, like the smell of Santa’s candy canes from the North Pole caught the attention of her nose. Sandy leaned in for a second time for a closer sniff, and yes, it was the scent of a candy cane! How odd to smell like a candy cane but the thought of him being “Santa Claus” was just a child-hood dream.

Dinner was ordered, which consisted of a full course meal including a sweet & satisfying dessert. Sandy chuckled and told Ray earlier she was not the type of date to order water & a salad and to be prepared to bring his wallet. Sandy figured half-way through the meal if the date she was on was going to go south she wanted her dessert and ordered the “cannoli for two”.

When the heavenly, yet sinfully decorated, dessert arrived a couple sitting across the table from Ray and Sandy asked if the married couple (Ray & Sandy) would like a picture as a memento of their evening. Ray and Sandy both looked stunned because they weren’t a married couple but two people sharing a delicious Italian dinner. Surprising though, to others in the restaurant, what they saw were two star-gazed lovers laughing and smiling at one another. Sandy scooted closer to Ray to pose for the picture. Sandy leaned in to give a ‘peck’ on Ray’s wholesome, glowing cheek but instead Ray turned his face and Sandy landed a pleasing and gratifying kiss on Ray’s soft, pink lips. What happened next is the gospel!

Sandy slowly pulled away her perplexed face as she was in a daze of confusion. What was that familiar taste? Ray’s lips taste like a scrumptious, frosted sugar cookie! Seriously folks, this is the truth! Sandy put two-and-two together (the peppermint scent from earlier and now the taste of a delicious sugar cookie). OMGoodness, Sandy was on a real date with Santa Claus!

Now, you’re starting to think this story is fabricated, but wait, there’s more and you will begin to believe in the magic as you continue to read.

After the meal Ray & Sandy went to a quaint little coffee shop and found a cozy and comfortable loveseat to rest and talk. As Ray and Sandy conversed a family was standing in line waiting for their order. A young, fresh-faced boy (around the age of 7’ish) was tugging on his father’s pant leg. As Sandy tried to give Ray her undivided attention, she couldn’t help but notice the child whispering into his father’s ear and pointing over where Ray & Sandy sat. The child was convinced Santa Claus was at the coffee shop and eagerly begged his father to walk with him over to Ray (aka: Santa Claus) to present his Christmas list.

Sandy sat in amazement and watched the interaction between Ray performing as “Santa Claus” and the child grinning from cheek to cheek. Sandy was witnessing the man of her dreams. A courageous and yet gentle man who took pride in a selfless act of becoming a beloved character in order to entertain a small child and watch him smile. She knew instantly, this rare human being, with a heart of gold, could remove all the sadness and pain within Sandy’s heart. That day, at that precise moment, Sandy fell in love with a city boy from the state of Rhode Island, whom she would in the month of June accept his marriage proposal. This is the man she waited for since she was a child and knew he would successfully replace all the sorrow within her heavy heart with never-ending joy, eternal happiness and everlasting love. It all made sense, the peppermint hug & sugar cookie kiss—this is the magic, true spirit of love.

Take a second, close your eyes and imagine when you were a child and stood anxiously in line, waiting for 5 precious minutes to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him everything you wish to find under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Did you ever second guess Santa Claus wasn’t real or a figment of your imagination? What you felt then and what Sandy felt during the moment when Ray, with no hesitation, immediately transformed into the full-blown character known around the world as “Santa Claus”. THIS IS THE TRUE Spirit of Love and joy.

Who are we to judge? An innocent child didn’t see Ray as a stranger but a man with a snow-white beard, mustache, and rosy-red cheeks to accept his Christmas list. Can you feel the magic? Sandy believes in the magic and will spend the rest of her life loving and living the true spirit of love with Raymond L. Champoux, Jr. and as a bonus, her lifetime Santa.

As their guests, you're cordially invited to attend the wedding of Sandra and Raymond as they recite their vows and exchange their personal promises in front of God. They hope you attend and observe the last page of their fairy-tale as, "they lived happily ever after".

LA FIN

(The End)