Dear Winona,

The trees dance and the leaves skitter in a whirlwind of contemplation, through all the changing seasons of men and women's glowing hearts, like embers of the unquenchable human spirit that knits clothing and weaves stories for winter. . . . . For when I was a young man ten years ago-- lost, lonely, abandoned, shorn from all of humanity-- I fell into a ditch and all but "gave up the ghost".

But then, teeth chattering-- I lit a fire and warmed my hands. . . . . improvising some kind of shelter around this hearth stone that began to glow with dreams of a wonderful young woman and a future that might be possible if I grew ambitious and quit feeling sorry for myself, making use of talents and skills I was only dimly aware of possessing, then maximizing them to their fullest potential for the love of that special one whom poems have been written, rock songs wailed, and beggars lined up on the side of the road like "The Orphans of HTML mark-up code".

For this shelter has been turned into a hamlet, a palace, an architecture of glory-- someday perhaps, an empire-- all based around that glowing hearth stone, now a roaring fire, a candle of hope-- a flare of guidance-- for both you and I, my love. . . . . wherever you may be. Like two teenagers sharing their secret underworld's in a corner at a party while the adults carry on with "phony politeness" and pat their chins with a napkin, we understand "the subversive truth of things". They talk long into the night and loom large in each other's thoughts like a playfully-dancing candle, a glow of great feeling-- a soft domestic scene of the-young-at-heart of SUCH SWEETNESS, you could smile into each other's eyes forever.

Which is why I'm asking you to become my lawfully-wedded wife, for us to mutually-support each other along the path into the new century as a couple, a team, with my love to offer the shelter and strength to keep you warm and contented "from here on out". It's the least I can do to repay the healing power of womanhood, the winding vines and flowers of sensitivity and creativity and wonderfulness in the garden of delight-- and just to let her know-- so there can never be any confusion, that she's the one.

With love & devotion,
-- Your biggest fan!