38 Special

Sounds like this is going to be about a gun, doesn't it? A revolver, made by Smith & Wesson. Nope. Not about an old Rock Group either. What is refers to is The Celebration in my life Today - May 1st, 2009.

38 years ago, on May 1, 1971, my bride actually did me the honor of becoming my bride. I still call her that a lot - "My Bride" that is. Many of my family and friends know this, and I've overheard some of my long term friends tell others they thought it was "cute". Don't know about that, but somehow, the wonderful woman who consented to marry me all those years ago deserves to be called more than "Wife" or "spouse". She's been, and is, so many things in my life. Girlfriend. Lover. Best Friend. Mother. Partner. Those are just a few applicable titles. So, Bride is what I'll refer to her as in this little ditty.

We met on a frigid January night in 1970. I had just arrived in Omaha from Los Angeles. I had been asked to help with a new office of our company. My Bride was working that evening. She marvels at the fact that I can tell her what she was wearing that night, and where she was when I first saw her.

Long story short, after a few months, we began the ritual called "Dating". Unfortunately for us, there was a policy of no fraternization, so, once our dating was outed, we were out of jobs. She came with me back to California, my home state, over the objection of her parents. We only stayed for a few months before I landed a job in St. Louis.

Time did move rather quickly, and she accepted my proposal. So, as stated earlier, we married on May 1st, 1971. From there, I asked her to do all sorts of things as I advanced my career. We moved to Florida first. Then, shortly - only a couple months - after the birth of our first child, we moved to California. More moves came over the years. Denver. Vail. Hilton Head Island. Denver again. Salt Lake City. Houston. And finally, Tulsa. Through it all, she never once complained, she simply asked "When do you have to be there?"

When we first were married, we talked about growing old together, and she had said we needed to be friends, first and foremost. As usual, her wisdom was right on. Today, our kids are raised as good adults - mostly because of her - and now they have moved on, living their own lives, it is back to just the two of us.

We are still friends. And we are growing old together. And, finally, 38 is special because I am fortunate to be with the Love of my Life - My Bride.


Happy Anniversary - I Love You.

Old Fart Mike (a.k.a Your Boyfriend)