Mazel Toy!

lopk\ maim -ono

.M41„,it 6,41,

Jeff Selik put Rhondi Keller
in lights to ask a most
important question.

?"-

CARI WALDMAN
Special to the Jewish News

I

t could have been a scene from a
Julia Roberts movie — imaginative
and romantic, yet hardly Pretty
Woman typical. Replace Richard
Gere with 26-year-old Jeff Selik, add in
Southfield's Rhondi Keller, and see how
the picture unfolds.
First came the two and a half years of dat-
ing. They both knew a proposal was near.
But bended knee during Chanuka or on
her birthday was not his style. "Too
cliche," said Selik.
But during ring shopping last March, he
had a vision of the perfect way to ask his 26-
year-old girlfriend to become his wife.
For more than 15 years Selik, who lives
in Bloomfield Hills, has been going to
Charleviox for summer camp and family
vacations. This year, in Augast, was the
first time Rhondi would be joining in the
tradition.
With his fantasy in mind, Selik and his
mother, Surreta Must, arranged a deal with
the Cinema III theater in Charlevoix to pop
the question on the movie marquee.
"This sort of thing takes precise plan-
ning," said Selik. "The movie owner said he
would keep the proposal up for 30 minutes
— from 4:30-5 p.m. He had a 5 o'clock
showing of Runaway Bride."
To ensure the plans would come off with-
out a hitch, Suretta went to Charlevoix a few
days early with Jeff's grandmother, Elanore
Bronstein, and Jeff's sister and brother-in-
law, Amy and Steven Meretsky of Windsor.
They all wanted be part of the big surprise.
Rhondi and a very restless Jeff, who had
the ring in his pocket all the way up to
Charlevoix, pulled into town just as
planned.
The arrangement was for Jeff and Rhondi
to meet Amy and Steven in town for a
Slurpee at the local 7-11. Strolling down
Bridge Street, on the way to meet them, Jeff

said to Rhondi, "Let's see what's playing
tonight at the movies." As they were turning
the corner, precisely at 4:45, Jeff began fid-
geting to get the green velvet box out of his
pocket.
Catching a
glimpse of the
words above her
head, Rhondi
stopped in her
tracks.
"What are
you doing!
What are you
doing?" she
cried.
The movie
marquee read,
"Rhondi, Will
You Marry Me?
Jeff"
Rhondi could
not believe what
she was seeing.
Amy and
Steven were
Jeff Selik and Rhondi Keller
across the street
with a video
recorder and a still camera to capture the
moment. Amid a big kiss and an enthusi-
astic "Yes," cameras began to flash and
passersby cheered.
Jeff sighed with relief. "All went 100 per-
cent perfect," said Selik.
"I had no idea," said Keller. "I was
assuming a proposal would come in
December when Jeff graduates with his
MBA from Wayne State University. He
completely surprised me."
Jeff, a partner with father Bruce Selik at
Hillside Furniture in Bloomfield Hills, and
Rhondi, an attorney at Bloom and Bloom in
Farmington Hills, are in the midst of plan-
ning a November 2000 wedding at Adat
Shalom Synagogue.
May they live happily ever after — just
like in the movies. 1 J

v.v ir gt

,

,

.;•

Rhondi Keller and Jeff Selik under the magical marquee.

10/15

1999