Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you fans for sending us your nearest and dearest love stories. Our 'Council of Cupids' chose one big winner and four runner-ups. Below is our big winner, Nancy Carter from Vernon, CT. Nancy will enjoy dinner at Mohegan Sun and a box of Godiva Chocolates. We hope you enjoy the stories!

Connecticut Sun Love Story of 2008
Nancy Carter from Vernon, CT

My Love Story - Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

My love story began in January 1977 when my girlfriend said, "you both talk funny, maybe you'll get along." The rest, as they say, is history. How right she was.

Her aim was to set me up with the guy who lived across the hall from her boyfriend. Our apartment buildings were adjacent to each other. January became February which became March which turned into April. Finally on April 8 we double-dated with said girlfriend and her honey. April 8 was Good Friday and back then, you couldn't get a drink anywhere in the state of Connecticut because it was Good Friday!! Still, stone-cold sober, we had a nice dinner and being with mutual friends helped to break the ice. Then the two of us stayed up until 2 am talking....funny. You see, I'm from Dallas, Texas and he's from southern Georgia. Two Southerners in New England. And, yes, we have "accents." Something clicked. The next day we went out again, just the two of us. That evening the conversation lasted until 3 am. This had to stop. We had to go to work during the week! We saw each other every day after work. Two weeks later my parents flew up for my birthday. I introduced them to Bill but gave no indication of where this might be going.

Where'd it go? May 10 he proposed. That was a fun phone call to the parents. Mom, Dad, Bill and I are getting married. My father's response, "I've seen all the others you've brought home. Hang onto this one. He's a keeper." A man of few words, that's my dad.

We married September 3, 1977 in Texas and this past year celebrated our 30th anniversary. Yes, you read that right. We didn't know each other one month before he proposed and were married in less than six months. Bless my mom for getting everything done so quickly long distance. It was a beautiful, fun wedding and we were surrounded by family and friends.

What makes us so special? We have defied the odds. In more ways than one.

We're still together 30 years later. I didn't think we would be. Married? No doubt about that. We were in it for the long haul. No, I thought I'd lose him to a brain tumor discovered when our daughter was 3. But he and the doctors at Hartford Hospital had other plans. Thank Heavens. In the 19 years since then he's fought finger cancer, lung cancer and more brain cancer. He's battled and won each time. And we're (my daughter and I) right by his side supporting and loving him every step of the way.

Some things are meant to be. Like Bill and I.

Good things do come to those who wait. I waited four months for that first date and was it ever worth it!

By the way, we still "talk funny" (him more than me - hehe) and "get along," loving each other one day at a time.

Each day is a blessing for our family. Love does that for you. Be thankful for each other and every day you have together. You never know what tomorrow will bring.