Dear Friends,

Thank G-d all is well.

This week Rachel Feltman (yes- it is Feltman with a ‘T’) and I were engaged. We first met in Peru almost three years ago while we were both traveling. In the first two minutes of our encounter, I harassed her about her American Spanish accent and her need to take at least 1000 pictures each day. (I have since learned that she is fluent in Spanish – essential to her work as an immigration lawyer in Miami, and that she actually takes very good photos.)

We kept in contact over the next while. It took her 2.5 years to convince me to come visit her in Miami, Florida while I was trying to get her to visit me in… well… a different location every couple weeks.

I finally did end up in Florida on my way to Puerto Rico, and never left. Well I did take a small trip to Montreal for Passover to be with the family…and a trip to Colombia to paraglide  - So in Colombia I was high most of the time, flying with the vultures – they, circling – looking for dead meat on the ground, and I, for rising thermals that were forming clouds…and I thought ‘wow,’ this is so nice it would be great if Rachel were here and sharing these incredible experiences.

I got her a white gold engagement ring with a Colombian emerald in the center to reflect her personality and individuality. When I got back to Miami, we walked on the beach. I gave her the ring and ‘informed’ her that we were getting married (Sorry… was I supposed to ask? ) She accepted the ring.

It has been a blessing to find a beautiful girl who not only understands my weirdness but appreciates it, too. Like myself, Rachel is a free thinker who does not subscribe easily to conventional thinking and this reflects in her personality.

About her: 27, born in Newport News, Virginia, has two cats, more friends than I can keep track of, can drive at 90 MPH -talking on her iPhone- punching in an address on the GPS-listing to the Radar detector- with the music full blast, is vegetarian or as she prefers to correct people – she is Lacto–pesco-ovolutarain…or is it pesco-lactotarien…no..pecto-lacto-ovo-getarrian….I still haven’t got it right!

Rachel has a heart of gold as always helping people, her favorite color is pink, like me she loves to travel with no plans…We are planning a one year honeymoon followed by living in Israel for some time where we can both study about our Jewish Heritage.

And so much more to tell…

You are invited to our engagement party please G-d Sunday May 30th in Miami, Florida. Time and location still unknown…And if you can’t make it then you can still come to the wedding mid-August in Minnesota.

If you still can’t make it, then we will perhaps come visit you on our one-year honeymoon around the world.

Best wishes,

-Ben /Binyamin