Love Story: Stacie Carnaghi and Carl Oliver

Published 1:21 am Thursday, February 28, 2008

Carl Oliver was attracted to Stacie Carnaghi as soon as he met her in 2000 during orientation at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She thought he was a really great person, but a hick.

As Carl remembers it, Stacie was interested in one of his roommates.

“All the way through college she would come into our room to discuss her boyfriend problems,” Carl said.

Stacie transferred to Central Washington University in Ellensburg for a semester but stayed in touch with Carl.

When she returned to the East Coast, they talked about dating each other, even though they were four hours apart.

Since 2000, Stacie had been on Carl’s mind, but the physical distance was a barrier.

An opportunity came Stacie’s way and she moved to Presque Isle, where there was a job. Carl was waiting for her there, too.

Stacie Nicole Carnaghi and Carl Ralph Oliver, both of Maine, plan to get married Monday in Las Vegas.

Their parents are Tony and Cherrie Carnaghi of Everett and Carl and Barb Oliver of Hogdon, Maine.

When they had talked about getting married, Carl told Stacie that he would not propose to her on a holiday. So, she didn’t think anything of the egg hunt that Carl prepared last Easter.

Carl’s family had always celebrated Easter in a big way. He asked Stacie what she would like as a gift. She wanted a bike.

When Stacie got up on Easter morning Carl followed her around as she put the plastic eggs in a bag and candies in her basket. She saw Carl’s Easter bunny that his grandmother had made for him when he was a boy. There was an egg sitting there that held chocolates.

“Underneath was the slip for my bicycle,” Stacie said. She was very excited.

Stacie took all the goodies out of the egg then noticed a plastic egg she had missed. It was her favorite color: purple. She opened the final egg to reveal an engagement ring.

Carl got down on one knee and asked Stacie to marry him.

“I kept crying and crying,” Stacie said. After a few minutes Carl asked if Stacie wanted him to put the ring on her finger.

Unbeknownst to Stacie, Carl had told his parents about the proposal and had asked her parents for their approval.

Stacie wondered about the his rule that he wouldn’t propose on a holiday.

“I told her that I had said not on Christmas or Valentine’s Day,” Carl said. “I had to cover my tracks.”

Carl is excited to be getting married Monday and doesn’t have cold feet at all.

“I honestly feel she is my other half, as corny as that sounds,” Carl said. “All of her flaws go nicely with my strengths and vice versa.”

Stacie describes Carl as her best friend, and a perfect fit for her. He means absolutely everything to Stacie. He’s her best friend and her confidant.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without him,” Stacie said.

For information on Love Story and Celebrations, call Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or e-mail harper@heraldnet.com.