Steve and Sandra — How We First Met

I was managing a professional women's cycling team and Sandra was racing for Australia. We met at the biggest women's race in the world - in the stairwell of the race hotel in Boise, Idaho in 1997. Sandra was the only racer who chose the stairs rather than a long line at the elevator to go up 2 flights of stairs. We chatted a bit, and hit it off. But when I asked the Australian team mechanic about her, he said she was married. So, I figured, 'hands off'. Still, after the race ended, we danced a bit and sat on the Andy Warhohl inspired 'lips' couch for our last chat for 2 years. It turns out that the mechanic was lying - he just wanted her for himself. Aussies are all criminals you know. :)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2 years later. The next time I saw Sandra was at another bike race. I got up the nerve, boxed out all the other guys chatting her up, and asked her out. I picked her up at the red barn youth hostel where she was staying, we ate, walked, talked, kissed, drank Milo [an Aussie Ovaltine-like beverage] and fell in love.

I proposed to Sandra at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia during their fountain show. I got down on my knee and asked if she would marry me. She said "Yes". I was shocked and felt a bit incredulous. I wanted to make sure that the deal was sealed, so I asked, "Would you marry me in a box with a fox?" "Yes" "Would you marry me with a mouse in a house?" "Yes" "Would you marry me on a bough with a cow [I figured this would be the clincher]?" "Yes". I was satisfied. The rest is x-rated. That's how we got 2 kids and a dog.

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