News Update
'Second-time jitters': Wife says 'Yes' to another 30 years of marriage at Four Funny Females show
Photo courtesy of McKinney Convention & Visitors Bureau - Allen resident Cliff Cubbage surprised his wife of 30 years on Saturday when he re-proposed to Linda on stage during a Four Funny Females show at the McKinney Performing Arts Center in downtown McKinney. Cubbage used the romantic occasion to right several wrong Valentine's Day experiences in the couple's past.
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com, @KelleyChambers7 on Twitter
Cliff Cubbage is patting himself on the back this week.
On Saturday night, Cliff took his sweetheart, Linda, to see Four Funny Females at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. While she thought of it simply as an early Valentine's Day celebration out on the town, Cliff had higher aspirations.
To add to the allure, he took Linda to have her hair and nails done that day, and gave her a beautiful red gown to wear.
With help from the comedic quad and local businesses like Landon Winery and La Misha Café, which provided them with a bottle of wine and dinner-for-two, Cliff proposed to Linda on stage, again asking for her hand in marriage and renewing their vows for their 30th wedding anniversary, which is in September.
The Allen resident said he got the idea for the public proposal after taking Linda to see the comedy troupe last month.
During the fourth act at Saturday's show, Cliff excused himself to the restroom, where he quickly changed into his tuxedo. Linda had no idea the next time she'd see her husband would be on stage.
"I got so nervous like two hours before, just hoping it goes OK," Cliff said. "I owe her my life, period, and I owe her a lot."
Cliff has been trying to make up for Valentine's Day since Feb. 18, 1995, when an injury he received after chasing a thief from a store led to a canceled date and years of prescription drug abuse. Linda helped him through recovery and was the constant line of support through the dark times, something for which Cliff said he would be forever grateful.
When his original plan of proposing in public fizzled into popping the question on the ride to Red Lobster at age 21, Cliff said he started thinking of ways to redeem both occasions with his wife and said Saturday's surprise was the perfect opportunity to right some of his wrongs.
Bubbling with adoration and emotion, Cliff bent down on one knee and this time publicly confessed his love for his soul mate.
"Will you, Buttercup, renew our vows? I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me all over again for a second time? I love you with all my heart. Thank you for loving me, Honeybun," he said.
Linda was welcomed with a romantic kiss upon saying yes, accompanied by hoots and whistles from the sold-out audience.
"I knew he was doing something, but I just thought he'd do something while we were having dinner with the family," said Linda in a release. "My husband's never done anything like this. And I've never even seen him in a tux! I'm still in shock!"
When Cliff accidently put Linda's ring on her right finger, Four Funny Females executive producer Laura Bartlett laughed and called it "second-time jitters."
Bartlett had been in constant contact with Cliff up to that night, helping him overcome some of those jitters and reaching out to local businesses to ensure a night to remember. In addition to dinner and wine, the couple received a $35 Red Lobster gift certificate - fitting with the start of the love story - and dessert compliments of Nothing Bundt Cakes in McKinney.
"Comedy doesn't usually go with romance," Bartlett said. "But we made a full-blown evening out of it, 400 people cheered him on, it was wonderful. It brought tears to everyone's eyes."
On Saturday night, Cliff took his sweetheart, Linda, to see Four Funny Females at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. While she thought of it simply as an early Valentine's Day celebration out on the town, Cliff had higher aspirations.
To add to the allure, he took Linda to have her hair and nails done that day, and gave her a beautiful red gown to wear.
With help from the comedic quad and local businesses like Landon Winery and La Misha Café, which provided them with a bottle of wine and dinner-for-two, Cliff proposed to Linda on stage, again asking for her hand in marriage and renewing their vows for their 30th wedding anniversary, which is in September.
The Allen resident said he got the idea for the public proposal after taking Linda to see the comedy troupe last month.
During the fourth act at Saturday's show, Cliff excused himself to the restroom, where he quickly changed into his tuxedo. Linda had no idea the next time she'd see her husband would be on stage.
"I got so nervous like two hours before, just hoping it goes OK," Cliff said. "I owe her my life, period, and I owe her a lot."
Cliff has been trying to make up for Valentine's Day since Feb. 18, 1995, when an injury he received after chasing a thief from a store led to a canceled date and years of prescription drug abuse. Linda helped him through recovery and was the constant line of support through the dark times, something for which Cliff said he would be forever grateful.
When his original plan of proposing in public fizzled into popping the question on the ride to Red Lobster at age 21, Cliff said he started thinking of ways to redeem both occasions with his wife and said Saturday's surprise was the perfect opportunity to right some of his wrongs.
Bubbling with adoration and emotion, Cliff bent down on one knee and this time publicly confessed his love for his soul mate.
"Will you, Buttercup, renew our vows? I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me all over again for a second time? I love you with all my heart. Thank you for loving me, Honeybun," he said.
Linda was welcomed with a romantic kiss upon saying yes, accompanied by hoots and whistles from the sold-out audience.
"I knew he was doing something, but I just thought he'd do something while we were having dinner with the family," said Linda in a release. "My husband's never done anything like this. And I've never even seen him in a tux! I'm still in shock!"
When Cliff accidently put Linda's ring on her right finger, Four Funny Females executive producer Laura Bartlett laughed and called it "second-time jitters."
Bartlett had been in constant contact with Cliff up to that night, helping him overcome some of those jitters and reaching out to local businesses to ensure a night to remember. In addition to dinner and wine, the couple received a $35 Red Lobster gift certificate - fitting with the start of the love story - and dessert compliments of Nothing Bundt Cakes in McKinney.
"Comedy doesn't usually go with romance," Bartlett said. "But we made a full-blown evening out of it, 400 people cheered him on, it was wonderful. It brought tears to everyone's eyes."
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