Dating/Marriage

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Ebony Elizabeth Thomas" <ebonyink at h...> 
wrote:
> Amber wrote:
> 
> >Question to all: Did you know right away that you had met 
the "Person
> >of Your Dreams"? How long before you knew?
> >

Ebony added:
> 
> Yes, everyone, please do share!  I love hearing about real-life 
romances... 
> keeps this lady-in-waiting from getting cynical, as does 
> reading/viewing/writing love stories.  ;-)
> 
Well, Doug & I met in the vet's office April 1987.  (I was bringing 
my dogs in to get their shots, he was picking up his cat)  His 
opening line was 'I wonder if my dog is on there.' (referring to the 
chart of dog breeds most vets have in their offices) I asked him what 
kind of dog he had & things just started from there.  We found out we 
both loved history & music.  Over the next month, we kept running 
into each other at various grocery stores.  One day, after about the 
fourth or fifth run-in, I said 'You know where I live, come over & 
let's talk. (I'd given him my address & phone number that day at the 
vet's--he asked for them!)  He did, we talked for hours, until he had 
to go to work (he was on half-time, working afternoons), but before 
he did, he invited me to the "Gourmet Caberet" his music group was 
performing in & also to the jam session at the library.  I went to 
both, & we've been together ever since.  By the time he took me to 
meet his parents, 4 July weekend, I knew I'd spend the rest of my 
life with him. (So did his mum!)  We've survived a vindictive ex-wife 
(not at *us*, she just liked to make his life hell where the kids 
were concerned)& a son who went through teen angst & problems when he 
was 10/11 (we were ready to take custody), all before we got 
married.  He knew I was the one, but having been married, divorced, & 
in a *horridly* toxic relationship, it took him a while to admit it.  
He said to me after we were married that he knew I was it, but we 
were so perfect, it scared the hell out of him.  We're now dealing 
with a son with mental illness (not the same son mentioned above).  
We're not in the same state & no one keeps us informed.  

We were probably both very jaded about love & romance.  Ours has 
never been (to the outside world, that is) a romantic love.  But, he 
gets up first & makes the coffee, he cleans out the cat box, he cooks 
two nights a week.  He puts a lot of thought into gifts he gives me 
(this year it was a CD, a racing broom, & a gourd canteen).  No, it's 
not all hearts & flowers romance, but then, we've been together 
almost 14 years.  But I can honestly say that I married my best 
friend.   

Peace & Plenty, 

Parker