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A Storybook Ending: Couple Finds Way Back To Each Other

Family photos

Dottie Grover and Roger Skipper, seen in 1973 at left and recently at right, will marry Sunday after finding each other after a decades-long separation.

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2009

We all love a good love story.

When this essay came across our desk, we wondered if it was fact or fiction.

It seemed too fairy-tale-like to be true.

After doing a little checking, we're now convinced this is the true story of Dotti Groover, 52, and Roger Skipper, 53, high-school sweethearts from Brandon who found their way back to each other - after a 31-year separation.

On Sunday, in the Empress Tea Room at Victoria Village in Tampa, they will seal the deal before family and close friends and finally get married.

So in honor of Valentine's Day, Dotti Groover tells her story of fate, faith and falling in love, all over again.

On Feb. 15, 2005, not long after my former husband and I parted ways, I received an e-mail from Classmates.com.

It was from Roger Skipper, my longtime high-school sweetheart. He wanted to know how my life had progressed. I had often thought about him and smiled while reminiscing of our time together in the early 1970s.

It took me awhile to regain my composure. Still shaking, I found the courage to respond. We both were divorced with kids and in relatively close proximity of each other - he lives in Merritt Island and I live in Tampa.

After several e-mails and phone calls over several months, I agreed to meet him for lunch at the former Whiskey Joe's on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

I was nervous and full of trepidation as I prepared for this reunion, gathering pictures of my life and old pictures of the two of us. Running late, I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and sat frozen in my car.

Then my cell phone rang.

"Is this was the part where I need to come and pry you from the steering wheel?" he asked.

I took a deep breath and said, "No." After primping in the mirror one last time, I gathered the huge bag containing my life and got out of the car.

As I walked up the steps to the outside deck, I saw the most handsome and somewhat familiar man stand up and walk toward me. My heart pounded fast and I was shaking like a leaf! Our eyes met as he reached out to hug me.

And I melted in his arms.

Bringing Back Memories

Who wouldn't be nervous at a time like this? I fumbled around, sat down and we gazed in amazement of each other. Roger then reached in a bag he brought and pulled out a small well-worn Bible. It had my name on it in gold letters and it brought back a flood of warm memories.

This was the Bible I left in Roger's car in 1973 after an Easter sunrise service at Camp Florida in Brandon. He had kept it all these years! Tears flooded my eyes and once again, I had to regain my composure.

He told me he had cherished it for more than 30 years and asked if I wanted it back. I told him that he taken such good care of it that he should keep it.

Then he reached in his bag again and brought out a brown piece of paper with hand-drawn pictures in crayon. It was a picture that my then-4-year-old sister, Amy, drew of herself standing in between Roger and me. We were holding hands, with birds and flowers in the foreground of a beautiful sunset.

On the other side, Amy had drawn my Mom and Dad, also holding hands and smiling. Roger had cherished this drawing that Amy had given him. Roger and I were close to Amy, always taking her everywhere with us.

I felt tears welling in my eyes again, and had to compose myself.

Our reunion lunch lasted four glorious hours. As we talked, I would look at him and get a flashback of a younger Roger from more than three decades ago. It was surreal and mesmerizing.

I realized then that day I had always loved him - a true, unconditional love. The sparks were definitely flying.

And we've been dating ever since. He treats me like a lady, with honor and respect, and has never failed to bring me flowers every time we meet. Last year on Valentine's Day, he gave me the same "Love Is" poetry book that I had given to him when I was 15 years old. It was yet another cherished item he has saved for years.

There's more to this story.

In 1974, I graduated from Brandon High School and left for Mercer College in Macon, Ga. Roger headed for Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. On his way to where he was stationed, he stopped by college to see me. I broke up with him during that visit because we were going in different directions and wanted some independence.

But little did I know he was going to propose to me that night.

He ended up throwing my engagement ring in the Mississippi River on his way to Texas. I never knew this happened until we met for lunch that day.

It's Different This Time

Nearly four years later and seven kids between us, Roger proposed. After two failed marriages, I never thought I would do this again. But something told me this was very different.

I accepted, and we are getting married Sunday, on the anniversary of when he first contacted me via e-mail. I will walk down the aisle to the song, "Story Book Story" from the movie, "The Princess Bride." We'll also be using my well-worn Bible that Roger saved from so long ago.

We believe with all our hearts that our union is divinely orchestrated and God has a very special plan for our life together. We want the world to know!

Dotti Groover runs a health-education consulting company called Take Charge! Lifestyle Management Inc., which focuses on body, mind and spirit fitness. Roger Skipper is an inspector for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They share a passion for community outreach and volunteer work.
And yes, both their mothers are in support of this marriage, and say it's "37 years overdue."
Faith Matters is an occasional series of personal essays by readers that runs on the Faith & Values page. Contributions for consideration may be e-mailed to mbearden@tampatrib.com or sent to: Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa. FL 33606.

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TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

high school sweethearts • high school sweetheart • whiskey joe • victoria village • merritt island • valentine s day • courtney campbell • classmates • close proximity • groover • dotti • e mail • tea room • steering wheel • old pictures • trepidation • deep breath • close friends • fairy tale • composure

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