Daughter,
I walked the aisles of Wal-Mart early this morning to purchase an anniversary card for your Mother.
I poked through the food department noticing the fat-free strawberry yogurt and ice cream sandwiches. Then there was the electronics section nearby. (Netbook. That’s all I’m saying.) The aroma of brand-new tires carried me to the automotive department. I may have passed sporting goods and along the way thought about picking up health supplements. (Me. Health supplements. Yeah, I laughed, too.)
Ta Dah! Greeting cards.
Surprisingly, Wal-Mart does not stock “Happy 26th Anniversary” cards. Although tempted by the talking “Luke, I am your father” Star Wars card, I believe Mother will be happy with my selection.
And each day, I am thankful your Mother selected me.
Here’s a little secret. I was the Rebound Guy. We don’t get the girl.
I asked Mother out the first time we met, Oct. 6, 1982. It was a Wednesday. We were working the afternoon shift at Arby’s. So far. So good. So you would think.
Missed our first date because I was studying for a calculus final. The second “first” date was a disaster. I may have taken her to a jewelry store in the mall and may have asked the clerk to look at engagement rings. Cartwheels. Really should leave that incident alone. Fuzzy about the whole experience.
And the list goes on. I tried too hard to impress. Even I wasn’t surprised when she eventually told me she needed breathing room.
Then the craziest thing happened. Two weeks later, she phoned and asked me out. She joked that she called a number of people and I was the only one to answer.
That’s OK though. She was taking me to the movies and I could choose the film as long as I bought the popcorn. This was promising.
We arrived at the Warren Twin Cinema, where movies were a dollar. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” was playing and God knows what else. I picked “Snow White.” Yeah, that screams “Over here! Pick me! I deserve a second chance!”
After the movie, we headed to Taco Bell. We talked and talked and talked. She was wonderful, and I wanted her to know how special she was. That was when the Rebound Guy became The Man.
Today, Mother and I mark 26 years of marriage. Know what? It feels like yesterday. That’s the neat thing about love. When you find the right person, who needs to keep track of time?
I walked the aisles of Wal-Mart early this morning to purchase an anniversary card for your Mother.
I poked through the food department noticing the fat-free strawberry yogurt and ice cream sandwiches. Then there was the electronics section nearby. (Netbook. That’s all I’m saying.) The aroma of brand-new tires carried me to the automotive department. I may have passed sporting goods and along the way thought about picking up health supplements. (Me. Health supplements. Yeah, I laughed, too.)
Ta Dah! Greeting cards.
Surprisingly, Wal-Mart does not stock “Happy 26th Anniversary” cards. Although tempted by the talking “Luke, I am your father” Star Wars card, I believe Mother will be happy with my selection.
And each day, I am thankful your Mother selected me.
Here’s a little secret. I was the Rebound Guy. We don’t get the girl.
I asked Mother out the first time we met, Oct. 6, 1982. It was a Wednesday. We were working the afternoon shift at Arby’s. So far. So good. So you would think.
Missed our first date because I was studying for a calculus final. The second “first” date was a disaster. I may have taken her to a jewelry store in the mall and may have asked the clerk to look at engagement rings. Cartwheels. Really should leave that incident alone. Fuzzy about the whole experience.
And the list goes on. I tried too hard to impress. Even I wasn’t surprised when she eventually told me she needed breathing room.
Then the craziest thing happened. Two weeks later, she phoned and asked me out. She joked that she called a number of people and I was the only one to answer.
That’s OK though. She was taking me to the movies and I could choose the film as long as I bought the popcorn. This was promising.
We arrived at the Warren Twin Cinema, where movies were a dollar. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” was playing and God knows what else. I picked “Snow White.” Yeah, that screams “Over here! Pick me! I deserve a second chance!”
After the movie, we headed to Taco Bell. We talked and talked and talked. She was wonderful, and I wanted her to know how special she was. That was when the Rebound Guy became The Man.
Today, Mother and I mark 26 years of marriage. Know what? It feels like yesterday. That’s the neat thing about love. When you find the right person, who needs to keep track of time?
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