Today is my 25th wedding anniversary! We were together for almost 5 years before we got married too. I have spent over a quarter of a century in love with my husband Bill. I have had people ask me how it is possible to spend all of your life with one person. It is easy if you love them! I have had people say they could never do that because they would get bored. How can you get bored with your family? You would never get bored with your son or daughter would you?

I remember seeing my husband for the first time. It was love at first sight. Why? Well I think he was my soul mate and perhaps my soul recognized it at the time. He was working at a restaurant where I happened to be having coffee with my mother and sister. I asked someone who he was and they turned around and went to tell him. I was so smitten that I actually applied for a job just to be near him. It was the first job I ever applied for! We worked different shifts but I knew he was there sometimes. Then one day a few months after I started working my car wouldn’t start and I started bawling. I called into work for the very first time in my life to tell them I was going to be late because I had to try to find a ride. My boss took care of that by telling me he would send someone.

Guess who pulled up to pick me up? Yes it was HIM! OMG was all I could think. I couldn’t even close the door because it wouldn’t pull shut so he had to lean across me to shut it. OMG!!! What did I do?? I talked all the way to work about how other people liked him. He knew it was me I was really talking about. He was shy and I was shy. It was painful to be near him because I was so nervous. I almost could not speak to him.

After that day he started staying at work after his shift ended so we could chat for a bit. Casually one day he asked me to go out on a date. I still remember that moment. I remember every detail of that moment. What I was doing, wearing, how he looked what time it was and on and on. I had on black corduroy pants with a purple heart that I had embroidered with a white blouse. I was rolling silverware by the counter where he was sitting drinking an iced tea. I was engrossed in my task when he asked me if I would go out with him. I know my chin dropped to the floor because he told me that later. It felt like my chin dropped to the floor too …haha. I said yes of course.

The next day he picked me up for lunch and the day after that was our first date. We went out to eat and then he took me to meet his family. We went to see the movie “Class of 1984” where I have no memory of any bit of that movie. My memories are all of sitting near him. At one point I had to go to the bathroom and I am sure it was my nerves. I kept thinking OMG. After the movie he took me home where he kissed me before I got out of the car. I walked backwards towards the house talking with him and fell over the trash that my mother had put out at the curb. I was mortified and laughing to cover it up. After I got up ad dusted myself off I did something I couldn’t help. I blurted out “I love you.” Mortified again I wanted to slap myself for uttering those words. Why did I do that? OMG! Guess what he did? He said it right back to me. I love you too! That was all she wrote for us to spend all of our lives together.

For my husband…..

Today I vowed to love you,
we began a life,
As two hearts entwined,
We become man and wife.

It was always me and you,
Through work and leisure,
Building a family,
We really treasure.

There are so few who are lucky,
To have what we do,
We put family first,
Me and you were the glue.

All this time gone by,
Our children are almost grown,
Can you believe that,
Life has really flown!

Here is to another 25 years,
spending our time together,
Almost back to just you and me,
We really meant forever!

I love you!