Good Comes from 9-11--Mick and Wendy Szoka's Marriage!
By Larry Lee, BraceBeagling Editor
September 12, 2003

Mick and Wendy Szoka. This picture was taken this summer while the Szoka family was at the Red Ceder Licensed Trial in Michigan.

Left to right: Jessica Carter, Zac Carter, Mick and Wendy Szoka.

Jessica and Zac Carter riding on the back of the four-wheeler at Red Ceder.

It was just two short years ago that the disaster of 9-11 happened. All of us have haunting memories of those three airplanes crashing into those buildings in New York City and Washington D. C. leaving over 2800 people dead. The same goes for Ohio beagler, Mick Szoka and his wife Wendy. However, along with the bad memories of that day the Szokas have a wonderful story to tell. The 9-11 tragedy brought new love into their lives and the exciting combination of a new family.

It was just a few days after 9-11 that Mick was judging the Western Michigan licensed trial near Greenville, Michigan. Mick was in his motel room ready to settle in for the evening in preparation for another full day of judging the following day. It was early in the evening and Mick was switching channels on the TV set trying to find something interesting to watch. However, every channel he tuned to was involved with 9-11 events. This caused Mick to feel sad. So he decided to go out and get something to eat thinking that curing his hunger pang would cheer him up.

He traveled down M-57 back into Greenville to a fine little restaurant and tavern that is noted for its delicious hamburgers, among other fine foods. (Believe me the hamburgers are good because I have tried them myself)

He sat up at the bar and just happened by accident to set down beside the girl that would be his future wife in less than a year. The girl’s name was Wendy Carter. Wendy said before meeting Mick she had no intention of getting into a relationship and was just happy raising her children, Jessica and Zac. Little did she realize that in less than a year she and her children would be moving to another state to start a new life.

As they sat at the bar Wendy was somewhat being distracted by an obnoxious man that she cared little about. She called on Mick to help her get out of the situation. So to distract the man she poked Mick while at the same time saying, “Why hello, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?” Realizing what was going on Mick played right along with the script.

Both Mick and Wendy said their attraction for each other was authentic right from the start. It was love at first sight.

Mick and Wendy parted company that evening but the next day’s happenings would bring them together again. Wendy was returning home the following day from a trip she had taken with her two children, Jessica and Zac. She felt compelled to stop by and see Mick in Greenville on her way home that afternoon. They were talking together on their cell phones when they looked up and their cars were actually setting right next to each other!

Wendy invited Mick over for dinner that evening and he accepted the invitation. However, Mick nearly blew the whole relationship before it really began. He was very tired after judging the trial at West Michigan that day. He returned to his motel room. Concerning this he said, “I kicked back to relax for a few minutes and low and behold I fell asleep.”

It was much different at Wendy’s house. She and Jessica, who Wendy calls “the little homemaker” were busy preparing the dinner for that evening. Time passed quickly and they became terribly disturbed because Mick was late in showing up. As the minutes passed by Jessica kept saying to her mother over and over again, “Now I just know he is not going to show up.” After a time and some pleading by Jessica, Wendy allowed her to call Mick on the phone.

Mick didn’t mind receiving the call at all. He was terribly embarrassed to think he was late for dinner. To alleviate his guilt and to win back their favor he stopped and bought flowers for Wendy and Jessica and a toy air force plane for Zac. When he gave them the gifts Mick said, “Please forgive me.” Wendy said, “The gifts were a piece offering. Since then I’ve received lots of beautiful flowers from Mick.” Jessica loved the flowers but now enjoys the chocolate covered strawberries that he now buys for her.

After returning to Ohio the following week Mick and Wendy corresponded by e-mail and phone calls. Mick said they sometimes talked for nearly two hours each evening on the telephone. During the following months each of them also made several trips back and forth between Michigan and Ohio.

Less than a year after that first meeting in September, Mick and Wendy exchanged vows the following July during an outdoor wedding ceremony in a cabana near Mick’s home in Ohio.

Wendy and her children, Jessica and Zac, have taken readily to Mick’s love of brace beagling. When I interview them for this story the whole family was together for a trial at Red Ceder Beagle Club in Michigan. Wendy said she also became indoctrinated to the sport real fast after their marriage. Shortly after moving to Ohio Mick whelped a litter of pups and Wendy helped him with the effort.

Mick and Wendy and the children live right next door to Mick’s parents, George and Pat Szoka. Wendy says, “We have blended very well and are very close. George and Pat are really Grandpa and Grandma to the children. They are just great people.”

The children also have adapted very well to the move to Ohio. Jessica is on the junior high boys football team. Jessica said she made friends real fast with a girl from New York named Lena. She met Lena during school orientation and that they have become good friends.

The terrible disaster of 9-11 brought this family together for the first time. Wendy said her only fear through out the whole courtship with Mick was, “that it was just a dream that might end before it all began.”

To observe this family enjoying each other one quickly realizes that it is indeed not a dream. It will not end abruptly. It is a love affair between two people who really care for each other and two children who have bonded well with their new father. They have started a new life. It is a great thing to observe.