Congratulations to Jill and Brandon!

I’m at a point in my life where my greatest joy comes with the accomplishments of my children. In truth once we become parents that becomes the priority and we mark milestones like when they begin walking, their first day of school and their first soccer game. 

As they get older the milestones seem a bit bigger…First Communion, sweet 16, high school and college graduation. All of a sudden you look up and they are grown up with their own careers and lives to plan.  This past weekend the life of my son Brandon changed forever when he got engaged to Jill Martino who no longer is his girlfriend but rather his fiancé.

Times clearly have changed but at least part of the engagement process remains pretty much a long-standing tradition.  Brandon had indeed made his intentions known to Jill’s father (just like I did many years before) and then began plotting a plan that everyone but Jill was involved in. 

First of course was the ring which meant a trip to Corinne Jewelers and third generation owner Ryan Blumenthal.  Brandon already had an idea of what Jill wanted and with help from her sister and my daughter we wrapped things up pretty quickly although I did have to return and have the ring re-sized which was not a problem.  Ryan and the staff at Corinne was terrific!

The plan was an elaborate one which started with a dinner Friday night with another couple at Battello on the Jersey City waterfront as both Jill and her friend Brittany had birthdays last week.  While they were having dinner about 100 of us were gathered in the back room hoping all would go off as planned. 

There were some minor glitches but at some point Brandon walked outside the restaurant and with the New York City skyline as a backdrop got down on one knee and proposed.  Fortunately Jill said yes and moments later her surprise reached an even greater level when they walked into a room of friends and family who had been keeping the secret for a couple of months. 

Needless to say it was a wonderful celebration and my wife Jane and I are thrilled for our son and soon to be daughter-in-law.  That sounds really strange!