The Doctor of Love
By Heidi Terry-Litchfield, Morris Daily Herald
Maegan Hughes wasn't exactly happy when she heard her boyfriend, Mike Pfiefer, wanted to go on Dr. Phil to discuss his forgetfulness. "When he told me Dr. Phil's producers said they'd pay for our trip out to California to have us on the show, I said, ‘No way,'" Hughes said. "I've seen talk shows. They try to get you on there and embarrass you, and I didn't want that."
Pfeifer explained to her there wasn't much time to make the decision, because they needed to board a plane that Monday to be there for the Tuesday taping. "I had to tell her that we were going to be in the audience and not on stage," Pfeifer said when family and friends gathered Friday at the Sandlot in Morris to watch the show. "The producers called and they told her what to expect."
The thing Pfeifer forgot to tell her about the trip was it had nothing to do with him forgetting things, and everything to do with him wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. Pfeifer had received a phone call from a friend whose girlfriend has connections to the show. The friend asked Pfeifer if he'd be interested in proposing to Hughes on the show before the day-before-Valentine's Day show. "When does something like this happen to someone around here?" Pfeifer asked. "I thought it was a great idea."
The couple flew to California on Monday, Feb. 9, for a taping on Tuesday, Feb 10. They returned to Morris on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Picture: Mike Pfeifer and Maegan Hughes gathered with friends at a downtown Morris bar Friday to watch the episode of the Dr. Phil Show on which the Morris couple became engaged.
When they landed in California, they received a call before they were able to leave the airport telling them they needed to go to the studio right away. Originally, they were told they would have Monday to see the sites. "I was a little upset because we had just landed," Hughes said. "We went to the studio, they did an interview with me, and then told me Mike had to stay for testing, and they sent me back to the Hotel." While Hughes believed Pfeifer was undergoing tests about forgetfulness, he and the producers and camera crew were at the jewelry store picking out Hughes' ring. "I kept calling him asking how much longer was going to be," she said. "I had no idea why they were giving him so many tests. I was afraid they were going to embarrass us."
Pfeifer said he was taken to the jewelry store, Robbins Brothers, and told to pick out a ring. He wasn't given a price limit." "They told me to pick out a ring and they'd tell me if it was in the budget," he said. He had an idea of what to look for in a ring, thanks to magazines left behind in the plane's seats on the way to California. Hughes commented about which rings she liked and disliked. Pfeifer picked out a one-carat diamond set in palladium with a half carat in diamonds on the sides. Hughes said he took her back to the store afterward and they looked around. She feels he made the perfect choice. "When we walked in they had champagne and rose petals," she said. "It was like nothing we've experienced before."
They said, while they didn't plan on getting engaged this soon, they knew they would one day. "I told him if we ever get engaged, I want to be surprised," she said. "But I handle the money, so I don't know how he could have surprised me." Pfeifer just received his bachelor's degree in teaching from Governor's State University. Hughes is an undergraduate at Governor's State. They both work as bartenders and, since receiving his bachelor's degree, Pfeifer has been working as a substitute teacher. "We both work really hard and we appreciate the opportunity," Pfeifer said. "We couldn't afford a ring like this on our own."
In addition to the trip, hotel, car service and food, the couple also received gifts. Friday's show was a giveaway show, with the audience going home with a multitude of prizes. Pfeifer said his friends joke with him and tell him he messed up because he can never top this. The couple prefers a summer wedding date and hopes to be married in July 2010. Prior to going on the show, Pfeifer asked Hughes' father for permission and asked his parents for their opinion.
