A dance, a kiss, some conversation. That's how it all started, twenty-eight years ago tonight.
When I walked into the club that long ago Friday night, pondering my lonely future, a dark cloud hovered over my head conjured by my dour thoughts. It's hard to imagine now, but there I was at twenty-two, already feeling so old. So jaded.
When I walked to my car a few hours later, the dark cloud had dissipated, my step was a little lighter, but I had no idea it was because I had just met my real future, which, it turned out, bore no resemblance to the one I had imagined.
Instead, my future was a cute Catholic boy with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. An optimist. A dreamer. He talked funny, thanks to his Maryland, etc. roots and the years spent hopping around America in the Coast Guard, but he could two-step and liked to have fun. He was romantic, sentimental and unabashedly affectionate, even in public! He didn't give a damn what anyone thought about him, but he'd give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
Like me, my future was fond of Ziggy, homemade chocolate chip cookies (okay, eating in general, and especially sweets), beer, history, and playing tennis. He had read Lord of the Rings. (The whole trilogy, not just The Hobbit!) He liked adventures, going places, spending time with me, meeting my friends and introducing me to his.
Now here we are three kids, a few car accidents, and a lot of debt later. Yes, we've changed a little. That's just time's job, changing things.
But some things have a way of peeling back time...back to a night in a club, twenty-eight years ago...
For me, all it takes is a dance, a kiss, and some conversation, and I'm back in 1981, listening to the passionate speech of a cute Catholic boy with a funny accent and deep blue eyes...
One year ago: The Beginning of Us
I think this was the first picture taken of us together...it was our very first trip to the Renaissance Festival, and it was dawning on me that our relationship wasn't just fun - it was getting serious. We went with Ann and her husband and first son, Heath. You can see Tom playing with Heath's foot - he was in a stroller back then - now he's in Afghanistan. Please pray for him.
And here we are last month at my friend Rae's 50th birthday party - either she or Barry took this one of me and Tom, still dancing...
