For Better, For Worse
Finally found Prince Charming

By Sandra Okamoto

Sandra and Jon Okamoto

Over the years I went through my share of "toads" but never gave up hope that my Prince Charming would one day show up. I watched all those romantic love movies that claimed that true love exists. If it could happen to Julia Roberts, it could happen to me.

But as I started to reach my early 30s I was faced with the realization that it doesn't happen to everyone. What happened to that saying that there's someone for everyone? Was my "someone" living in Alaska or some faraway place? Did I bump into him in the shopping mall and fail to notice because I was too busy looking at that fabulous pair of shoes in the window?

And then, on my 35th birthday, I decided that true love just wasn't in the stars for me. I remember telling my mother that I didn't think I was put on this earth to be married and have children.

Her response was, "Don't worry, the right one will come along eventually." I smiled and nodded, but I didn't believe her. After all, what else could a mother say?

Then, one evening some friends from work decided to go to a local sports bar to sing karaoke. I didn't have any plans, so I called my friend Allyne to see if she wanted to go with me. At the last minute I decided that I wasn't really in the mood to go, so I called Allyne to cancel. She had already left, and since I was supposed to meet her in the parking lot, I dragged myself over there.

Besides believing in true love, I also believe that there's a reason for everything in life. You may not understand why something happens at the time, but one day you look back and it all makes perfect sense.

Well, while driving to the sports bar, I remember thinking that if I had called Allyne five minutes earlier I could have stayed home and watched "Ally McBeal."

Now I think about how, had I called Allyne five minutes earlier, I may never have met the love of my life.

He walked into the bar with some guys I knew from work. I am a flight attendant, so I remembered seeing him as a passenger on some of my flights to Maui, and all I knew about him was that he also worked for Hawaiian Airlines. I didn't even know his name.

We were introduced, and I was immediately attracted to him. A week later we went out on our first date and I knew that he was the one I would spend the rest of my life with.

I never used to understand those people who told me that when you meet the right person, you just know. But it's true, it's not something you can put into words. It's a feeling that everything in your life is just the way it should be. Five months later we were engaged.

Thanks to my husband, Jon, I'm a believer in love again. And for those hopeless romantics out there: Trust me, dreams really do come true.

Jon and Sandra Okamoto were married May 19 at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. They live in 'Ewa Beach.