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'Total eclipse of the heart': North Bay couple gets engaged during celestial event

'It took her a minute to fully realize what was happening'

While everybody has their eyes glued to the eclipse at the waterfront Monday, Australian Scott Strange only had eyes for the love of his life: North Bay's Robin Benard.

So he dropped to one knee and popped the question.

"She was shocked. She was not expecting it at all! It was a beautiful surprise," Benard's close friend Rebecca Morin told our sister site BayToday.

Strange had waited until the peak of the eclipse for maximum romantic impact and it worked. She said yes.

Benard's daughter Sophie and close friends joined the couple for the special event. Their wedding will be in Australia — an international love story.

"And a total eclipse of the heart," quipped Morin.

The proposal was such a surprise only one photo was taken by the group. 

"It took her a minute to fully realize what was happening," Morin said. "She was overcome with emotion. She was shaking for a good half hour after it happened. It was such a joyous moment to witness between two friends who are so deeply in love with each other."

Since it happened right when the eclipse was at its peak, everyone was looking skyward.

"When the crowd realized what happened they all erupted in cheers," explained Morin. "She’s one of my closest friends. This literally couldn’t have been a more magical day."


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Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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