Written by:

Edward and Barbara Elder

May 29th, 2010 will always hold a special place in our hearts; that was the day I proposed to the love of my life, Barbara.  I suggested that we go to Wildwood that day, which was the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. It was a picture perfect day. When we got down there I checked (without her knowing) to see what time the rides on Morey’s Pier opened. We walked the boardwalk and bought a few things at the craft fair that was outside of the Wildwood Convention Center.

When the rides opened we rode a few, and then I suggested we go on the Ferris Wheel. We went on, and after a few minutes it finally stopped with us at the top. We were looking around and taking in the view when I took off my sunglasses and reached for her hand and said, “You know how much I love you, right?” She looked at me and she said, “Yes”.  I  then reached in my pocket and said, “So I have a question for you. What are you doing for the rest of your life?”. I pulled out the ring box, opened it up and said, “Barbara Diane Euculano, will you marry me?” She was shocked and immediately started crying and asked “Are you sure?”  I just laughed and she said, “Yes!”   After she put the ring on I told her the center stone was from my mother’s engagement ring, who had passed in 2007 from a long battle with breast cancer.  This only made her cry harder. I then told her that when we rode the Ferris Wheel in 2009 she told me that  it would be so romantic to be proposed to at the top.

When we reached the bottom and exited the ride, we called our family and friends to tell them the good news. I told her I  already told them my plan and they knew I was going to propose that day. I also told her I had asked her parents permission weeks ago to marry her.  We enjoyed the rest of the day on the Wildwood boardwalk and Cape May.  Since then we have made it a tradition  every Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to go down the shore and ride “our” ferris wheel.