All morning, I've been singing that ol' 1963 McCartney/Lennon Beatles' song, "She loves you". It's been going through my brain after hearing that a twenty-six year-old gentleman, Ben Okuly proposed to his girlfriend, Melissa Steele at a Paul McCartney concert last weekend in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan.

During the concert, Ben held up a sign that read:

CAN BEN ASK MELISSA TO MARRY HIM?

Ben and Melissa were seated in the fourth row, so it was fairly easy for McCartney to spot the sign.

Paul responded with a resounding "yes" by reading Ben's sign out loud for all to hear, including of course, Melissa.

Paul then said to Ben, "Well, go on, get down on your knees and ask her, Ben!"

The Palace of Auburn Hills Proposal of Marriage

Ben, who works at a library in Findlay, Ohio, did just that.

Melissa, twenty-five, who works in a local hospital's emergency room, said "yes."

"Well, that's a first for me," McCartney said about Ben's efforts to make his October 14th 2005 proposal extra-special and memorable.

"And I hope it's a last for you, Ben," McCartney said looking at Ben.

Later in the concert, Paul and his band played the old Beatles favorite, "Hey Jude." McCartney got everyone in the crowd into it.

One side of the "palace" sang, "Na ... na na na na na na", and then the other side. Then, the men got to sing alone, and then just the women.

"And now just Ben and Melissa," McCartney said, making the magical evening over-the-top memorable for this young couple in love.

McCartney had no idea how significant his gesture was to both Ben and Melissa. The past eighteen months had been exceptionally challenging for both of them. Two of Ben's grandparents passed away in three months. And Melissa lost her sister in July.

Ben said, "I was trying to think of a way to do this and make it a memorable occasion, really special."

This week, the newly engaged couple were waving a second sign -- together -- which they had made for Paul.

Meanwhile, Sir Paul and his band must be thanking Ben for the good press.

According to PaulMcCartney.com and Ticketmaster, McCartney's remaining US tour dates are as follows:

Columbus, Ohio - 10.22
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 10.23
St. Paul, Minnesota - 10.26
Des Moines, Iowa - 10.27
Omaha, Nebraska - 10.30
Denver, Colorado - 11.1
Seattle, Washington - 11.3
Portland, Oregon - 11.4
San Jose, California - 11.7 and 11.8
Anaheim, California - 11.11 and 11.12
Sacramento, California - 11.16
Dallas, Texas - 11.20
Glendale, Arizona - 11.23
Las Vegas, Arizona - 11.25 and 11.26
Los Angeles, California - 11.29

His latest album Chaos And Creation In The Backyard was released last month.

Don't miss out!

Way to go, Ben! And congratulations, Melissa!!

So, what Paul McCartney songs will you be playing at your wedding reception? If you don't mind my saying, "She Loves Me" would be a good one to add to your repertoire.

Sie Liebt Dich!

Now sing along with me:

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

You think you lost your love
When I saw her yesterday
It's you she's thinking of
And she told me what to say
She says she loves you
And you know that can't be bad
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad

She said you hurt her so
She almost lost her mind
And now she says she knows
You're not the hurting kind
She says she loves you
And you know that can't be bad
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad, ooh

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
And with a love like that
You know you should be glad

You know it's up to you
I think it's only fair
Pride can hurt you too
Apologize to her
Because she loves you
And you know that can't be bad
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad, ooh

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

If you don't know the tune, it last became available five years ago on The Beatles 1. It was originally released on The Beatles' Second Album.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "VVVIP 'Creation in the Frontyard'" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC

P.S. In doing research for this story, I learned that in October 2005, Uncut Magazine named "She Loves You" the third biggest song that changed the world, behind Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". I also learned that McCartney and Lennon were inspired to write "She Loves You" after a concert at the Majestic Ballroom in Newcastle as part of their tour with Roy Orbison and Gerry and the Pacemakers. For that complete story, go to: en.Wikipedia.org

Do you suppose Ben & Melissa will inspire McCartney to write a new song after his concert in Michigan? Stay tuned...