True Love Stories: They met walking the dogs, and are now leashed together for life

My husband and I met at the corner of King and Iris streets in Carson City. We were both walking our dogs. Steve crossed the street to introduce himself and asked me to walk with him. Although I thought he was handsome - I still have a picture in my mind of how he looked that day - I declined because I wasn't sure who this man was.

We met again while we were walking our dogs and Steve asked me out for lunch. The next day, when we were scheduling our first date, he ratcheted our date up to dinner.

Before we reached the day of our first date, we met again at the street dance in downtown Carson City. Steve notes that he knew I was a keeper when we danced our first dance that night. I didn't know until later that night when he sang - kind of yodeled - the song from the Chicago TV classic "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" and took my hand and walked me into Mo and Sluggo's.

We had a wonderful first date. By the second date, I knew I was in love. We were engaged 10 months later - he asked me to walk the dogs during our lunch hour, which was kind of a surprise since we were in work clothes. When we arrived at the corner of King and Iris he stopped and said, "This is where it all began," and pulled out the most beautiful ring I could ever imagine.

There was no thinking needed. I just said, "Yes," and told him it was the best day of my life. We were married five months later at the Cal Neva Resort in Lake Tahoe, the most perfect wedding that I could have ever dreamed of.

We have been married nearly five years, and they have been the best years that I have ever experienced. I love you Shnoogums! Love, Woogie.

Mindy Martini

Carson City