To propose to my love, Dawn Roberts, I did the following: I planned a romantic trip for us through lower Michigan to Mackinac Island. I drew and painted a treasure map of Mackinac Island with the following poem: "On your second day in the afternoon you?ll find your treasure where rocks are strewn. From the Rock that?s an Arch look East and down, there your treasure will be found." I aged the map to look at least 150 years old, and put the map in an aged envelope, sealed it with red wax and a fleur-de-lis seal, and wrote Dawn?s name on the envelope in 19th century calligraphy. I had the map sent to the B&B we would be staying at the day before we went to Mackinac Island, and asked the owners to help me with my plan. Barb and Gordon, who were in the Foreign Service and have traveled the world over, own the B&B. We arrived at the B&B on Saturday night. When we came down for breakfast in the morning I introduced my fiancé to the owner. When I said Dawn’s name, Barb said ?Dawn Roberts? Gordon, remember that letter we got in Jakarta?? While Gordon went to get the envelope with the map inside, Barb told a story about how 20 years ago they were handed the letter by a man in the street who told them they would someday be able to deliver it. Dawn (and the other guests) were intrigued by the map, which really did look authentic, and the story. That night we got to Mackinac Island, and in the middle of the night I left our hotel room and went down to the beach below Arch Rock and out into the water of Lake Huron where I turned over rocks to expose their mossless bottoms. On our second day (remember the poem) we biked on many trails following the map until Dawn found Arch Rock. When we walked out on the rock she looked East and down and saw ?MARRY ME? spelled out in the rocks under the water. When I could tell that she had seen it I got down on one knee and pulled out a little treasure chest with her engagement ring inside. She said yes!
John Heinzel,
Racine, WI
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