O'Connell, Leal
Crystal O'Connell of Duluth and Andrew Leal of Cloquet plan to be married Saturday in United Protestant Church in Morgan Park.
Her parents are Kenneth and Karen Donald of Esko and Thomas O'Connell of Wrenshall. His parents are Deborah Leal of Cloquet and the late Samuel Leal.
The future bride, a 1999 graduate of Denfeld High School, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and is pursuing a doctorate in psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in Eagan, Minn. She is employed by the Human Development Center in Duluth.
The future groom, a 1998 graduate of Cloquet High School, graduated from Minnesota West Community and Technology College in Canby, Minn., in 2006, with an electrician diploma. He is an electrician for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 242 in Duluth.
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Not-so-mistaken identity
While out doing some Christmas shopping, Andy and I stopped at a local jewelry store. The man helping us turned to Andy and asked, "Weren't you in here a few weeks ago?" Acting quickly on his feet, Andy insisted the man was mistaken, but suggested his identical twin brother might have been in the store. Not realizing Andy was trying to keep his visit a secret, the man replied, "No, this guy was looking at engagement rings with his fiancé and he looked exactly like you." My interests were definitely piqued, but the surprise was far from ruined. In fact, Andy asked me to open a gift early three times but I turned him down (something I never would have done knowing there was a ring waiting for me!).
There were several packages under the tree with my name on them but on Christmas Eve morning Andy asked me to open one that I had not yet noticed. At first I thought it was a tin of cookies, but when I opened the container there was a note card placed inside. On the front were the most beautiful words I had ever read and on the back he had written "Will You Marry Me?." When I looked up, Andy was down on one knee. All I could say was "yes" over and over again.
Turns out Andy was the twin at the jewelry store after all, and that "fiancé" was my mom!
-- Crystal O'Connell
