ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602120058
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-17 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JENNIFER ORRELLO
Here's the love story that made eyes pop in our newsroom. Dean Orrell's proposal to his wife, Jennifer, definitely is a winner.
Near the end of the school day on May 18, 1992, in Colorado Springs, Colo., I was showing a film to my third-grade students when my principal came in and said, "You need to go up to the office now. You won't be coming back so you need to take all of your things with you."
When I got to the office, the secretary was anxiously waiting in the hallway. She quickly motioned me to go out to the front of the school where there was a long, white limousine.
I was thrilled, thinking, "Publisher's Clearinghouse!"
The driver said, "Jennifer, please come with me."
I got in and he handed me a card that read: "Instructions: Fair Maiden, as you start the mystery search for your lover, you must adhere to each of the 'clues' and follow their instructions very carefully to reach your final destination."
Clue No.1 was a riddle I was to solve. I was so flustered and shaking I couldn't think straight so the driver helped me discern that it described a McDonalds that Dean and I loved to go to when we were dating because we always ate ice cream cones while we watched their exotic saltwater fish. (At that point I knew Dean had set this up. I never really thought this was leading toward a proposal since we had discussed marriage at Christmas and we felt we weren't ready.) So the driver drove me there, handed my camera to me and said I was to take a picture of the huge fish tank inside.
The second clue led me to our favorite restaurant where I was to go in and get a matchbook.
The driver drove me to each clue as I solved it and at each I was to do something. At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, I was to feed the giraffes. At the Will Rogers Shrine, I was to buy a postcard. There were eight clues and each led me to a place in the city that was very special to us.
The last clue brought me to the Broadmoor, a beautiful hotel with a large lake where Dean and I loved to feed the ducks and swans. My instruction was to walk around the left side of the lake. I walked quite a distance and didn't see him so I started to turn back when the chauffeur yelled at me from across the lake
"Keep going! Keep going !" he shouted, waving his arms frantically.
I went further when Dean suddenly appeared from behind a large bush wearing a prince costume. I ran up to thank him for such a fun ride when he dropped to one knee and said very solemnly, "My fair maiden, I've waited for you all my life. Will you be my bride?"
I said, "YES !" His fingers shook as he pulled out a solitaire diamond ring from his pocket and put it on my finger. I cried and we hugged and talked about all of the clues and how he had planned this. Then the chauffeur drove us to a restaurant which overlooks the city to have dinner. Later, he drove us around Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs, beautiful sights near the city. It was an exciting, special day that I will never forget.
We were married on October 10, 1992 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jennifer Orrell moved to Christiansburg with her husband, Dean, a Ph.D. candidate in industrial and systems engineering at Virginia Tech. Jennifer's pursuing a master's degree in counseling at Tech.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. 1. Jennifer and Dean Orrell (right)by CNBwere married at the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs,
Colo., in 1992. Before their marriage, Orrell sent his future bride
on a search for a series of clues that led to his proposal. 2.
Jennifer and Dean stand beside the limousine (below) that
transported her on the treasure hunt. color.