No joke, no punch line, just heart-felt romance. Throughout the Joke threads, and even strewn throughout practically all categories within this Forum are degrading comments about the "old lady" (spouse in general). I feel badly for those trapped in a marriage that makes them unhappy. However, there are a few of us that made the most excellent choice in a mate, and years later are still madly in love. This thread is for US!! I'll start with my abbreviated story:
As a mechanic on December 27, 1994 (first day back to work after Christmas), I got my right index finger caught in a fan belt and almost lost it. At a minimum, I would have had to spend a year in physical therapy (after 2 surgeries) before being released to return to work. Instead I went to truck driving school to learn something I could do with a mangled finger.
There were 41 male and 3 female students at the school; 2 of the women were married. There was 1 personal vehicle for every 5-6 students (most took the bus). Whoever wrote the "Pre-Trip Inspection" list obviously did it on the fly (with no real logic or order in mind). Finally, not only was I a mechanic, but had previously driven a soda truck before the CDL was mandated.
I re-organized the Pre-Trip Inspection list to make it flow; left to right, top to bottom, inside to outside, etc. One of the instructors asked me to go through the Pre-Trip and was blown away when I got 114/115 of the items correct (this is about 1 week into the class). I was immediately promoted to "Student Mentor", coaching other students on the Pre-Trip Inspection. The only single woman was told to get with me to learn this danged Pre-Trip.
Although I found myself looking her way often, I convinced myself that I was there to get my CDL and get back to work. After all, she had her choice of not only 41 students, but virtually any heterosexual male she wanted (she was gorgeous, after all). When we had to get from the hotel to the school and back, students without vehicles had to make friends with students with vehicles (which I had--1970 Duster). She repeatedly asked me for a ride (later I found out because I treated her with respect). When the teachers provided a means for us to finally talk (I was that Pre-Trip mentor), I fell in love. I had a reason to talk to her (oh, and by the way, she was there to get her CDL to get on with life and hated the "attention" she got from fellow students). Within a week I knew I wanted to marry her!
We married on September 17, 1994; a mere 6 months after we started talking. Her father begged her to postpone the wedding for a year or 2 so we could get to know each other. Not a single member of my family attended our wedding (I'm Caucasian and her father is black, and my family had prejudices).
There have been challenges. We lost a baby in 2001 that drove us insane, tore us apart, and hurt more than most of you could ever know. Somehow we got through it -- and other life-challenges as well.
So this doesn't drag on with boring details, we are approaching 27 years together and are still as in love as we have ever been. Today, she has health issues; I have self-employment financial issues. The bottom line is we love each other and are still glad we married.
With that said, the floor is open for YOU to share YOUR love story.
As a mechanic on December 27, 1994 (first day back to work after Christmas), I got my right index finger caught in a fan belt and almost lost it. At a minimum, I would have had to spend a year in physical therapy (after 2 surgeries) before being released to return to work. Instead I went to truck driving school to learn something I could do with a mangled finger.
There were 41 male and 3 female students at the school; 2 of the women were married. There was 1 personal vehicle for every 5-6 students (most took the bus). Whoever wrote the "Pre-Trip Inspection" list obviously did it on the fly (with no real logic or order in mind). Finally, not only was I a mechanic, but had previously driven a soda truck before the CDL was mandated.
I re-organized the Pre-Trip Inspection list to make it flow; left to right, top to bottom, inside to outside, etc. One of the instructors asked me to go through the Pre-Trip and was blown away when I got 114/115 of the items correct (this is about 1 week into the class). I was immediately promoted to "Student Mentor", coaching other students on the Pre-Trip Inspection. The only single woman was told to get with me to learn this danged Pre-Trip.
Although I found myself looking her way often, I convinced myself that I was there to get my CDL and get back to work. After all, she had her choice of not only 41 students, but virtually any heterosexual male she wanted (she was gorgeous, after all). When we had to get from the hotel to the school and back, students without vehicles had to make friends with students with vehicles (which I had--1970 Duster). She repeatedly asked me for a ride (later I found out because I treated her with respect). When the teachers provided a means for us to finally talk (I was that Pre-Trip mentor), I fell in love. I had a reason to talk to her (oh, and by the way, she was there to get her CDL to get on with life and hated the "attention" she got from fellow students). Within a week I knew I wanted to marry her!
We married on September 17, 1994; a mere 6 months after we started talking. Her father begged her to postpone the wedding for a year or 2 so we could get to know each other. Not a single member of my family attended our wedding (I'm Caucasian and her father is black, and my family had prejudices).
There have been challenges. We lost a baby in 2001 that drove us insane, tore us apart, and hurt more than most of you could ever know. Somehow we got through it -- and other life-challenges as well.
So this doesn't drag on with boring details, we are approaching 27 years together and are still as in love as we have ever been. Today, she has health issues; I have self-employment financial issues. The bottom line is we love each other and are still glad we married.
With that said, the floor is open for YOU to share YOUR love story.
