Two years to the day (March 1, 2006) after meeting Lyuda, we are happy to announce that we will be getting married! We met through our mutual friend, Phil Coffman (retired Sergeant Major, US Army Rangers) - known by many expats in Odessa. We've been together from the first night we met which we spent celebrating Sveta's (Phil's girlfriend) birthday at Friends & Beer and then onto Night Club Praetoria. Lyuda typically spends 1-2 weeks at home with her mother and business in the town of Ladyzhin, and the rest of the time with me in Odessa.

I've never met a kinder, gentler person. We get along very well and in the times where we've had disagreements, have settled them quickly and rationally. Neither of us have children, something mutually agreeable to us. We both come from small families. Her mother is still living in Ladyzhin and she has one younger brother, and a 20 pound cat by the name of Marsik. As all I have remaining are two sisters living in Washington, I've decided to make my residence in Ukraine as permanent as possible.

As my mother passed away in January, I flew back to help take care of final arrangements and estate issues and didn't get back until late February. Being away for a month made me realize that I've come to regard Odessa as my "real home". One of her uncles passed away right before I got back, and just a few days ago, one of our close friends in Odessa passed away, too. So, things are moving slower while we help extended family and friends take care of their arrangements, too.

Asking her to marry me was something I've considered at length and wanted to find the right time - March 1 seemed most appropriate. I didn't think she'd say no, and thankfully she didn't. The announcement provides a much needed bright spot for what has otherwise not been a good year for many of our friends and family. We haven't determined details yet, suffice that as we move forward with the process, we'll define it step by step to make it easier for others, too.