After meeting on eHarmony, corresponding extensively, and alternately visiting each other in North Dakota and in Texas, Greg decided that he wanted to introduce Brenda to his family. Together with Greg’s brother and sister-in-law, Greg and Brenda traveled to France, spending three days in and around Paris with Glenn and Mary. On December 23, all headed south to Montpellier to visit Greg’s parents.
On Christmas Eve morning, Greg and Brenda set out from Montpellier on an adventure. The apparent goal: a hike to the Croix de Provence at the top of the Mont Sainte-Victoire, near Aix-en-Provence, France. Greg’s real objective? Proposing marriage! The weather didn’t cooperate, so the original plan was out of the question. Greg decided that he didn’t want to wait for December 29 to attempt his original backup plan in Paris, so he came up with an alternate plan.
Greg and Brenda spent some time driving through the region of the Mont Sainte-Victoire, then strolled through the city center of Aix-en-Provence (where Greg lived from 1990-92). They then headed for the coastal town of Aigues-Mortes—a walled, medieval city located on the Canal du Rhône à Sète, part of a series of coastal waterways connected to the Mediterranean Sea. The walls are still intact, and visitors can walk around the entire city on top of the ramparts, stopping in or climbing stairs to the top of numerous towers along the walls.
After spending some time exploring, Greg and Brenda climbed to the top of the tower on the far eastern corner of the city. After enjoying the view together for a few minutes, Greg got down on one knee and asked Brenda to marry him. As the existence of this website attests, Brenda said, “Yes!”