A Basking Ridge Romance, Valentines Love Story Contest Winner

Congratulations to Patti Bennett and Mark Gatzke, who will receive a $75 gift certificate to Ling Ling Restaurant for winning the Basking Ridge Patch love story contest. To read all of the entries, see the comments on the bottom of the love story contest article.

Patti's winning story is below:

During my 15 years as a resident of Basking Ridge I have had many wonderful Valentines Day celebrations. However, in 2005 I became a member of a club that no one wants to belong to–I became a widow on March 10 of that year. That year was the last Valentines Day I had with my husband and I couldn't even fathom ever loving again.

My husband, who was 38 years young, shared so many beautiful thoughts with me during the nine weeks that he lay dying. Knowing the type of man he was, I wasn't at all shocked when he spoke to me about my falling in love again. He reassured me that it would happen.

He not only spoke the words, but he left me journal entries and I quote "You need not look far, but you will need to look deep. You will know you found love when you can look into his eyes and see way beyond into his heart and his soul." And so my story of finding love in Basking Ridge began one year later, but neither one of us knew it.

I was at my older son's basketball game at the middle school and walked over to ask his coach a question. When he turned around and looked at me I was speechless.  Mine and the coach's eyes locked and then his girlfriend stepped in. Not only did she step in, she dismissed me. Wow! I sat on the bleachers mesmerized, not just by how attractive he was, but there was something about that brief moment that our eyes locked. I attended the games each week. We would exchange small talk about how my son was playing–that was it.

For the next two years I went on dates. It was fun, but I often enjoyed just hanging out with my kids, friends, family or by myself. During the summer of 2008 I went into our local hardware store to ask them to recommend someone to do handy work around my house.  They said sure we have someone, and out came coach. He started to do work on my home that summer and we would talk while he worked and even after he finished. I found out he was single and I was thrilled. I noticed he was coming around to do extra work and when I'd ask what I owed him, he'd say a million bucks and a smile. I'd melt. Months went by, he worked in my house, we talked and I never got a bill. Hey, I figured if he wasn't interested in me at the very least I was getting quality work done in my house.       

My birthday was in November. He knew I was celebrating with friends on a Friday night. That next night, I was on my own. I was thinking, I wish he would call and ask me out. Talk about having your prayers answered, ten minutes later he called and asked me to dinner for that evening. We went to the Red Oak Grille in the Hills and it was there that he told me how he felt about me. We started seeing each other every day (we live around the corner from each other).  

A short time into our relationship he asked me if I would spend the rest of my life with him and be his wife. We are happily engaged in Basking Ridge. And my husband was right, you need not look far but you do need to look deep. Every day when I look into my fiance's eyes, I see more than words can express. I had a husband who was so wise. He guided me through my grief by leaving me journals and even led me to my future husband. My hopes and dreams came true in beautiful Basking Ridge. Every day I am grateful for the extraordinary man in my life. Happy Valentines Day to all. 

Love Patti and Mark