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ooo Valentine’s Day blind date results in lasting love for local couple None of us emerge from a love affair unscathed; each of us carries the wounds from a first love, perhaps even a second. The phrase “lucky in love” is an oft coined misno- mer. Is it luck, passion, timing? Is it Cupid’s arrow? What is the magic that results in the allure of loves fiery kiss? Meet local couple Lee Beacock and Sandra Mayr; for them, Valentine’s Day marks a special anniversary, where they each finally got “lucky in love” and found who they were looking for all along. Sandra, a single mom of three, had experienced the rough and rocky roads of relationships that were unfulfilling, unhappy and thus, unsuccessful. She surmised that she might spend the rest of her life alone. She wasn’t sure if that came as a relief or a curse, given the struggles she had been through. In January 2003, her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Sandra spent months nursing her mother back to health while in the midst of licking her wounds from a failed marriage. Her neighbour, a volunteer firefighter, mentioned the Port Perry Fire Department's annual Valentine Fundraiser. Know- ing Sandra could use a night out; they encouraged her to join them for an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment. “He said I had to have a date” she says with a laugh. “He went to the fire hall the next day and asked who'd like to go on a date with his neighbour!” A few hands jumped up; that was until he mentioned she had three children. “All the hands went down, except one.” She says. That hand belonged to Lee. Lee, an unmarried firefighter; just never found the right girl. Diving into his work, romance was the last thing on his mind. Friendly, quiet and kind, why not jump at the chance for a fun night out? Having met briefly the day before the dance, they made plans for the “date”. “We were both so shy, we hardly said a word,” said Sandra, reminiscing about that day. He picked her up as planned and they spent a wonderful evening getting to know each other. “We hit it off and the next day we each called each other at the exact same time, getting each other’s answering machine!” said Sandra. They made plans to date again and the rest is, as they say, history. “Lee has always been so supportive, of everything I do,” she smiles. This was an experience Sandra had not felt in her previous relationships. He encouraged her to return to college to obtain her diploma in social service and has been support- Sandra and Lee are celebrating the seventh anniversary of their first date on February 14, which happens to be Valentine's Day. ive in her career as a team leader with Community Living North Durham and an auxiliary police officer with the Durham Region Police Service. Lee has been the loving partner Sandra never had and has been a terrific father-figure her children needed. “We go on date nights, but we are mellow. We rent movies, go snowmobiling, we just like being together.” With the PPFD fundraiser just days away, they look forward to attending, as they do every year. “We never miss it,” Sandra says enthusiastically. This year marks their seventh anniversary. Will they marry? “We'll see...that’s the usual Christmas joke!” says Sandra. They bought a home together and have lived there for close to two years. “We are friends and you've got to make sure your partner is your friend. Without that, you’ve got noth- ing,” Sandra stated emphatically. Valentine’s Day should to be celebrated; a time to rejoice that we have tasted love’s sweet wine; that we found our other half; a new friend, or an old lover. It’s more than hearts and flowers. Single or married... do something fun, something different; just do something to celebrate this special day! Tammy Horvath, Focus On Scugog FOCUS - FEBRUARY 2010 5