When I Said I Do

I was out of school, working for the state in disability service coordination. I had an apartment in Lincoln, he had just finished his last season of football at Kearney. I was 23, he was days from his 23rd birthday. We saw each other on the weekends and had toyed with the idea of marriage. He would be finishing school in the spring and looking for a teaching job. We had always had a long distance relationship and knew that we wanted to be together, in the same town, and build our future together.

I met him at his parents' in Omaha on December 8th, 2000 and we went to AMC to see Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He acted a little funny about his coat in the theater, wanting to keep it in his seat when I offered to throw it in the empty seat next to me. I didn't think much of it at the time.

After the movie we went to Barnes & Noble for hot chocolate. We were standing in line to pay and he told me to stick my hand in his coat pocket. I obliged and felt a ring box. My face must have lit up, I can still feel the beaming smile. He asked me if he should do it right there, and I said NO! We walked to the car, this sense of anticipation hanging over us. He opened my car door and as I climbed in, he got down on one knee right in the parking lot. I can't remember exactly what he said because I was floating, flying. I said Yes! And we were engaged. He had bought me the ring that I admired the one time we went shopping. The ring that he told me there was no way he could buy. The round diamond set in platinum that became the symbol of his commitment to me.

We were married six months later in my hometown. My mother was a wonderful wedding planner, asking my opinion and then taking care of the arrangements. I told her I wanted it to seem like a garden. No balloons. No lace. No tulle. She listened and put together a beautiful wedding in the modest church where I grew up. We rented the Eagles Club in a neighboring town and had a party to remember. It was so much fun!

What I remember most is how proud I felt that this wonderful guy would love me. Marry me.

He is a poet. An athlete. Strong and loyal. Funny. Smart. He was everything I ever wanted and independent and hard headed enough to keep it interesting. It's never dull and I never wanted it to be.

Eight years ago today we said I do and every year I am more grateful that we did.

I love you, Hubs.

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