http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...mance_0226liv.ART.State.Edition1.3ee2a3d.html
She heard his voice, and fell in love
TRUE ROMANCE
05:39 PM CST on Sunday, February 26, 2006
By STEVE KENNY / The Dallas Morning News
The couple: Blake, 40, and Jennifer Lindsay, 27.
JASON JANIK/Special Contributor
Now married nearly three years, Blake and Jennifer Lindsay dated a full year without a car. Who they are: Blake Lindsay, an Indiana native, is a longtime Dallas disc jockey (he was at KISS-FM from 1994 until 2001) who's gone by the handles Blind Blake and, later, Blazin' Blake. He now owns Blazin' Blake, a voice-over production company that specializes in radio station promos and commercials. And, yes, Blake is blind.
Jennifer Gable was born in Dallas and grew up in Carrollton, graduating from Newman Smith High School. She works at U.S. Toys and Constructive Playthings in Carrollton.
How they met: Jennifer, who had been a fan of Blake's for six years, wrote him a letter in July 2000 and sent it to KISS. "I was attracted to his voice," she says. "I thought, 'Wow, he sounds hot. I gotta meet him.' "
"It was a real neat letter," Blake says. "And she told me some expressions she liked on the radio. The fact that she had listened for six years really flattered me. ... I've still got the letter; I'll keep it all my life."
What happened then: Blake was impressed enough to send a personal note, asking a female co-worker at KISS to take dictation. "I had to tell her I was blind because I had to explain why it seemed like feminine handwriting," he says with a laugh.
Jennifer, in fact, didn't know Blake couldn't see, not that it mattered. She was surprised, however, by his quick reply. "I thought it would probably be two months before I heard from him," Jennifer says. Still, she waited about a week before calling him, although she said right off the bat that she wasn't "really looking for a boyfriend right now."
That didn't matter to Blake. He suggested they meet in early August 2000 at a Chili's for "some good conversation." It was a meeting that turned into a first date, although a nontraditional one, because Blake's friend Jason was there, too. (He had to drive.)
By evening's end, it was Jennifer who suggested, "Hey I'd like to see you again."
Obstacles: Jennifer didn't have a driver's license or a car, and Blake can't drive.
"We dated for a full year without a car," Blake says. "We started learning bus schedules and things like that. We took taxis. But we got together every weekend, on Saturday night, and then would go to church [First Baptist of Carrollton] together on Sunday."
About a year into their relationship, Jennifer got her license, and they bought a car together. It was almost like an engagement ring substitute, although they weren't officially engaged yet.
Blake also worried about their 13-year age difference. "I'm a little older than I sound on the radio," he says. "She didn't let it get in the way, and her parents didn't either."
"I started liking him more and more – his looks and his personality, and he's just a lot of fun being around," Jennifer says.
Blake was sensitive, too, about proving his independence to Jennifer. "A lot of people have concerns about that," he says. But Jennifer turned out to be natural companion for someone who can't see. "She'll tell me things she sees, and she puts in a quick synopsis," he says. "It's amazing how much a different that makes when we go to the movies."
The proposal: Blake asked for Jennifer's hand on New Year's Eve, just as 2001 turned into 2002, at Antonio Ristorante in Addison Circle. "I almost proposed to her when the lights were still out at midnight!" he says. "I had been holding on to the ring for about a month and a half. I was about ready to burst."
But before he could propose, Blake had to consult with friends. He knew, for example, about the whole bended-knee thing, but didn't know if that meant one knee or two. "I had never seen it in the movies," Blake says.
For Jennifer, the engagement was a big relief. "I didn't think he was going to ask me to marry him," she says. "I wanted to tell him, 'You're taking too long!' "
The wedding: It was a nice long engagement. Blake and Jennifer didn't exchange vows for more than a year, on March 29, 2003, at First Baptist of Carrollton. "It's coming up on the big three years, and I can honestly say I love her now more than ever," Blake says.
Parting words: Married life, Jennifer says, has "been exciting and fun." But it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't had the courage to send a letter to a person she only knew as a voice on the radio.
So if there's any lesson from their story, she says it's this: "If you really want to meet this guy or this girl – just go for it."
Do you have a True Romance story? E-mail Steve Kenny at [email protected].
<P ID="signature">______________
JRA
I am a fan, not a professional. So do not condemn my ignorance. Mmm kay?</P>
She heard his voice, and fell in love
TRUE ROMANCE
05:39 PM CST on Sunday, February 26, 2006
By STEVE KENNY / The Dallas Morning News
The couple: Blake, 40, and Jennifer Lindsay, 27.
JASON JANIK/Special Contributor
Now married nearly three years, Blake and Jennifer Lindsay dated a full year without a car. Who they are: Blake Lindsay, an Indiana native, is a longtime Dallas disc jockey (he was at KISS-FM from 1994 until 2001) who's gone by the handles Blind Blake and, later, Blazin' Blake. He now owns Blazin' Blake, a voice-over production company that specializes in radio station promos and commercials. And, yes, Blake is blind.
Jennifer Gable was born in Dallas and grew up in Carrollton, graduating from Newman Smith High School. She works at U.S. Toys and Constructive Playthings in Carrollton.
How they met: Jennifer, who had been a fan of Blake's for six years, wrote him a letter in July 2000 and sent it to KISS. "I was attracted to his voice," she says. "I thought, 'Wow, he sounds hot. I gotta meet him.' "
"It was a real neat letter," Blake says. "And she told me some expressions she liked on the radio. The fact that she had listened for six years really flattered me. ... I've still got the letter; I'll keep it all my life."
What happened then: Blake was impressed enough to send a personal note, asking a female co-worker at KISS to take dictation. "I had to tell her I was blind because I had to explain why it seemed like feminine handwriting," he says with a laugh.
Jennifer, in fact, didn't know Blake couldn't see, not that it mattered. She was surprised, however, by his quick reply. "I thought it would probably be two months before I heard from him," Jennifer says. Still, she waited about a week before calling him, although she said right off the bat that she wasn't "really looking for a boyfriend right now."
That didn't matter to Blake. He suggested they meet in early August 2000 at a Chili's for "some good conversation." It was a meeting that turned into a first date, although a nontraditional one, because Blake's friend Jason was there, too. (He had to drive.)
By evening's end, it was Jennifer who suggested, "Hey I'd like to see you again."
Obstacles: Jennifer didn't have a driver's license or a car, and Blake can't drive.
"We dated for a full year without a car," Blake says. "We started learning bus schedules and things like that. We took taxis. But we got together every weekend, on Saturday night, and then would go to church [First Baptist of Carrollton] together on Sunday."
About a year into their relationship, Jennifer got her license, and they bought a car together. It was almost like an engagement ring substitute, although they weren't officially engaged yet.
Blake also worried about their 13-year age difference. "I'm a little older than I sound on the radio," he says. "She didn't let it get in the way, and her parents didn't either."
"I started liking him more and more – his looks and his personality, and he's just a lot of fun being around," Jennifer says.
Blake was sensitive, too, about proving his independence to Jennifer. "A lot of people have concerns about that," he says. But Jennifer turned out to be natural companion for someone who can't see. "She'll tell me things she sees, and she puts in a quick synopsis," he says. "It's amazing how much a different that makes when we go to the movies."
The proposal: Blake asked for Jennifer's hand on New Year's Eve, just as 2001 turned into 2002, at Antonio Ristorante in Addison Circle. "I almost proposed to her when the lights were still out at midnight!" he says. "I had been holding on to the ring for about a month and a half. I was about ready to burst."
But before he could propose, Blake had to consult with friends. He knew, for example, about the whole bended-knee thing, but didn't know if that meant one knee or two. "I had never seen it in the movies," Blake says.
For Jennifer, the engagement was a big relief. "I didn't think he was going to ask me to marry him," she says. "I wanted to tell him, 'You're taking too long!' "
The wedding: It was a nice long engagement. Blake and Jennifer didn't exchange vows for more than a year, on March 29, 2003, at First Baptist of Carrollton. "It's coming up on the big three years, and I can honestly say I love her now more than ever," Blake says.
Parting words: Married life, Jennifer says, has "been exciting and fun." But it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't had the courage to send a letter to a person she only knew as a voice on the radio.
So if there's any lesson from their story, she says it's this: "If you really want to meet this guy or this girl – just go for it."
Do you have a True Romance story? E-mail Steve Kenny at [email protected].
<P ID="signature">______________
JRA
I am a fan, not a professional. So do not condemn my ignorance. Mmm kay?</P>