Falling in love

Lee and Victoria Conley

Editor's note: The Appeal asked several local people to share their love stories this week in honor of Valentine's Day. Today, we feature the story of Seeliger Elementary Principal Lee Conley and his wife, Victoria.

Being single for a number of years before I met my wife, Victoria, I thought I was happy. Then she entered my life and turned it upside-down in an absolutely positive manner. We had been dating for a year and I knew I couldn't let this one get away.

She had always owned horses and boarded them at her parents at the time, and she thought of those horses as her children. Every weekend, we would go to her parents' house and work with the horses, hang outside in the corrals, and just relax with them. This setting proved to be my golden ticket.

One sunny, calm Saturday morning, we again took the trip from Reno to her parents' place for our weekend ritual. I had purchased a ring a few weeks earlier and was waiting for the right time and place to pop the big question.

I had previously asked her father for permission to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Her parents were in on the plan from the beginning. Victoria and I worked with the horses and her parents "just happened" to come and hang out with us and the horses.

As Victoria sat on a bale of hay for a break, I asked her parents to come closer, with her horses hanging their heads over the fence. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.

She was in a bit of shock, but thankfully accepted my proposal with her parents and "kids" looking on. Since then, we have been happily married for seven-plus years and have adopted more "kids."

It was the best and most meaningful question I have ever asked in my life.