However, it soon became clear that Allison was not the kind of woman who would sit around and wait for some prince to come along and define her identity. Rather, more in the manner of a Big Al, she was going to be her own boss, follow her own path, and define her own identity. And so, she worked to establish herself as a top student, world-class debater, city commissioner, Board of Trustees member, and published mathematician.

She was also very sure about one other thing. Ever since the age of fourteen, she had insisted that there could only be one man in her life, and that was this young fellow named Steven Kong. Now, I'll admit that, at first, Steven did seem like a nice young man, he was very good to have around as a computer repairman, and it was cute the way he would always come to our house and, in response to our stimulating company, fall asleep on the couch. However, it soon became clear that, as in so many other ways, Allison had been right: Steven really was an extraordinary young man—brilliant, mature, responsible, and utterly devoted to Allison.

And so, it turns out that Allison has fulfilled her original destiny after all—only, instead of Prince Charming or Prince William, she has married Prince Steven.

(Delivered in Claremont, California on July 7, 2007.)