Thank You Latin Beat!

We met at Latin Beat Dance Studios in August of 2005. There weren't any sparks flying, but we kept finding ourselves in the same social circles. Our first dance was Septembery 24 at the 2005 Latin Beat Katrina Hurricane Relief party; we quickly figured out that we could both cut loose and dance as crazy as we wanted and the other would follow. From that moment we knew we were going to be good friends.

In November outside the Latin Beat Anniversary Party we had the first of many conversations out in the parking lot. Still no sparks, but another step in the right direction. Something kept placing us together.

In January I asked Jacky to become dance partners. We practiced a few Sundays here and there and at a few BTS events. There were quite a few more parking lot conversations and practice dances at Latin Beat.

On June 17th, we made a wager on the USA / Italy World Cup game. If USA won, Jacky owed me coffee; if Italy won, I owed her coffee. Knowing Italy would win, she upped the wager to dinner (a friendly one, of course!). I agreed. Well, USA and Italy tied, but I still agreed to take her to dinner.

On June 24th, I went over to Jacky's house with flowers in hand and a surprise dinner location in mind. I took her to Oceans234 right on Deerfield Beach. It was the first time she'd eaten at a restaurant right on the beach. We then took a nice long walk on the beach; a sea turtle came up to lay eggs while we were talking (we talk a lot). After grabbing a couple gelatos at a nearby shop we walked some more. Just when we thought the night was going to end, my best friend Sam calls and invites us to go with him and his girlfriend Monet to Paladium. We went there and said 'Hi' to a few people from Latin Beat before escaping to the smaller, more private dance floor. Several songs in I planted a kiss right on her lips and she kissed back. Sparks finally flew!