Thanks to all who entered our first ever Love Story Contest:  

Congratulations to our winners,

Kellen & Rachel Mcaffee!

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It was a crisp fall morning in San Francisco and the last day of my weekend sightseeing trip.  Wanting one last view of the city, I grabbed a trolley map from the concierge and hopped on at the nearest stop.  

As we entered downtown, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen stepped onto the trolley. The combination of her beauty and the snow-white pea coat and 1940s style hat she was wearing captured my attention. To me, she looked as though she was from another time. She paid her fare, quickly surveyed the trolley, and sat directly across from me.  The woman didn’t notice me as she settled into her seat but as soon our eyes met there was a shock of excitement.  

We were barely able to keep our eyes off each other but neither of us wanted to seem rude for staring.  Each time I caught her glance she would coyly smile, lower her head and conceal her face behind the brim of her hat while I would nervously fidget with my little map of San Francisco.  As the fog began to lift, flecks of sunlight would sparkle off her eyes as the trolley rode between the tall buildings. I wanted to talk to her but resisted. I was too shy. Reluctantly, I departed the trolley thinking it was pointless to get to know her since we lived in different cities. 

Later that winter I had nearly forgotten the girl on the trolley and was spending Valentine’s Day delivering flowers for a local floral shop. I vicariously experienced joy as I handed elaborate bouquets to extremely happy ladies.  Their eyes lit up and often they would blush.  That year, delivering joy to these women was the next best thing to having a girl of my dreams. 

Toward the end of the day I loaded the final deliveries into my car. At my second stop I was standing at a receptionist’s desk holding a tasteful wild flower bouquet and chocolate covered strawberries while she went to get the lucky recipient. 

After about a minute I saw a woman walking down the hallway toward me. I could not believe my eyes—it was the girl from the trolley.  I was actually seeing her again and I could tell by her reaction that she remembered me as well.  To my horror, her eyes went from me to the bouquet. It was for her!  Tragedy had struck. She had a boyfriend? Husband?

 I lowered my eyes to the clipboard I clutched in my hands and showed her where to sign. I wanted to leave quickly to avoid any awkward acknowledgement that we had encountered each other before. Just then, the receptionist suggestively asked who they were from, as if it was a scandalous surprise. 

“Oh Lisa, they’re from my Mom.” she answered, looking at me through the corner of her eye. 

Released from my inner anguish, I immediately blurted out “I saw you on the trolley!”  

“In San Francisco—I know,” she said giggling. “How crazy is that?” I said awkwardly and told her I would love to see her again sometime. 

“How about tonight? Are you busy?” she said to my surprise and joy. 

 That night we had dinner at a romantic little place downtown. Staying for hours, we had plenty to talk about, given the circumstances under which we had met. Our dinner lasted for hours, until we were among the last to leave. We both remember feeling like we were closer and more connected than any of the other couples dining there that night, even though we had barely met.  

We married one year later.   

Today, our love grows stronger by the day and the story of how we met is part of the foundation that keeps it strong.  Our story makes us feel like a higher power intervened to bring us together.  

We’ve found joy in our relationship and in the hope and inspiration it brings to others. It has become our tradition to return to San Francisco each year on our anniversary and ride the trolley. This reminds us not only of the day our love story began, but that there is someone out there for everyone.  

And that new love stories are always being written.

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Kellen and Rachel will receive a Valentine's night stay in our Presidential Suite with Private chef’s dinner for two!