DEAR ABBY: About a year ago, a friend of mine passed away. His funeral was more than 1,000 miles away. Because I didn't have much money, another friend called her best friend from high school and asked him to let me stay with him while I attended the funeral.
As a thank-you for his hospitality, I insisted on cooking for him my last night there. (He survived on frozen pizza!) We ate together, and at the end of the meal, he begged me not to leave yet. He had fallen in love with me, and I with him in the short time there! I changed my travel plans, and now a year later, we're engaged.
When people see that we're engaged, we always get asked, "How did you meet?" I tell them it was through a friend, but some people insist on hearing the whole story. Should we make something up? I can't tell people that I met him because of my friend's funeral! -- J.H. IN YONKERS
DEAR J.H.: Why not? It's a wonderful story. Out of sadness came joy; out of death came life. I consider your love story to be an affirmation -- and so should you.