Real Life Love Story #2, Part 1

My parents have been married for 28 years.  It has always been a blessing to know they are committed to each other and are not afraid to show us how much they love each other.  I never doubted my parents would stick together, because their actions spoke volumes to me about how important their marriage was to them.  I asked them each to share their love story.  I'm going to share it in two parts, because they each wrote their own version of their story.  

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His Story

When did you first meet her and what was your first impression of her?

My sister Mary brought her home to visit our family and introduced me to her.  I thought she was pretty and also quite talkative (just like my sister Mary).  But I was painfully shy, so I didn’t stick around to talk much to her.  So I doubt that I made much of an impression on her at first!  


How long was your dating/courtship?  What kind of things did you do together?

I’m sure Mary will know this for certain, but it’s just a guess for me.  I’m guessing it was over a year of going out together before we started to talk about our future together.  And then it was only a year or so after that before we got married.  I always hung around with a group of high school buddies, and they liked to go to Appleton night clubs (because Hilbert was boring and there weren’t many girls there).  Mary and I managed to be at a few of those together, but didn’t do a lot together socially at first (mostly because I didn’t have a car license).  Once I graduated college, got a job, and got a car we started to see more of each other.  But it was mostly hanging out at bars and bowling alleys (social stuff with my group of buddies) and also family gatherings.  The best times were when we got quiet time to talk to each other, like when we would go visit her aunt & uncle in Iron Mountain; they have great hiking trails around their lake cottage.  You have to know that back in that time there were no cell phones or internet, so connecting was left to either the regular telephone or letters in the mail.  I enjoy writing, and I don’t like talking on the telephone.  So my favorite method of communicating was letters.  But Mary liked to use the phone, so we had many long conversations.


When did you know she was THE one? 

I have always said that I knew from the first time I met her that she was someone special.  And it is the truth; I knew pretty soon after we started dating that she was the one for me.  Even after we first met I couldn’t get her off my mind, although I was too shy to bring up the subject much – and God forbid even pick up the phone and call her!  Thank God that sister Mary pushed the envelope – introducing us at my sister Cindy’s wedding and then leaving me there to talk with her all by myself.  But it was easy to talk to her, and I got the sense that she actually liked to talk to me, too.  


How did you propose? 

We were on a long walk around the lake cabin in Iron Mountain.  I don’t recall if it was actually a real proposal, or if we just mutually decided that we should take the next step in our relationship.  I just remember that we were on the same wave length, and it just seemed like the right time and right place to ask each other if we should make a commitment to marriage.  I was always the one who was sure about her from the start, and I had to convince her that we were right for each other.  We had a lot of conversations around that subject before our walkabout in Iron Mountain, so I don’t think she was surprised that I asked for her commitment then.  I won’t say that it was a surprise to me when she said “yes”, but it was for sure one of the best moments of my life!


What kind of advice would you like to share with others about making a marriage that lasts a lifetime? 

Make time with each other; commit to spending time together outside of the hustle & bustle of everyday life.  Sometimes it takes extra effort to do that, just because our work lives consume so much of our days.  But we have to make that effort.  Of course, it helps that we have many mutual interests, and we have quite a few things that we both like to do.  We both like spending time together watching our favorite TV shows, going to movies, going to sporting events (especially Timber Rattler and Packer games), going out to eat, going on walks, bike rides, swimming, family events, playing board games, going on annual family vacations; and I’m sure I’m forgetting a few others.  The point is, if you really love each other you will want to spend time together – and we do.