Ifor my parents with loveI br br Such a grand and festive lady br that steamer to Put-in-Bay br escaping her dock br just after dawn br leaving Detroit's factory din br moored to the Michigan shore. br br Sunbeams glanced off waves br in lake Erie's tranquility br bound for Sandusky br and Put-in-Bay Island. br br Clattering silver and porcelain br veiled by sweeter sounds br of congenial banter and br ballads crooned by the shipboard band. br playing late beneath the stars br for 'swing' and 'jitterbug' br reeds and horns and ritual beats br blazed the air with frenzied jubilation. br br Paired in the rhythm section, br Jim drove chords from strings and pick br while Janice matched beat for beat - br fingers flying over ivory and ebony br until Detroit lights shone ashore br on the port side bow br where the Put-in-Bay would br re-tether to its Motor City pier. br br How their union sealed is forever’s mystery. br Was it bonded br checking chords in a Gershwin tune br or on break over scotch at the bar br or with a sideward smile during “All of Me? ” br No one knows but the moment came, br as sure as rain to Lake Erie, br when Janice knew that Jim would ask br and he knew she’d answer, 'Yes.