We've celebrated the day - the anniversary of the day we met - with a lot of nostalgia over the last 25 years. It was our first celebration of the importance and significance of our life together. As incredible and special of a day that it was - it's also very scandalous and so over the years, we've made a point to re-live the tiny details of that day so that we never forget. As we've shared the story over the years, friends and family have laughed with us, some have even blushed. It's our perfectly imperfect story.
*One Year Anniversary
So, on this particular day back in 1993, my future husband was skipping school with his best friend. Halfway through the day, they were bored so they wanted to pick up some "chicks". Ronnie's best friend knew a couple of girls who may be willing to skip school with them. So outside of my 6th period Algebra class, there HE stood. And my Best Friend, Hil (and Best Friend to this very day) was also there waiting with bated breath begging me to skip 7th period with these two formative, adolescent boys. I couldn't, shouldn't, no way. I was a preacher's daughter. No, uh-huh. But then I did!
Blame peer pressure or two souls uniting. He was cute! And, I was interested. So, the four of us drove together to a hometown place called, "The Crosses." It's 3 Stone Crosses perched on a hill above a cemetery. So, we drove there and we talked (and drank a "Forty"). He was cute and so easy to flirt with and his presence was so comfortable. He drove me home in his Dad's 1979 Z-28 Camaro and asked me if I wanted to go out that night. Of course I wanted to - except that I wasn't allowed to date at 15. So, I made up a story that my Sister was taking me to a Basketball Game at the High School that night and instead, my Sister took me to meet him in the parking lot of a grocery store.
When we pulled up to the meeting spot, there wasn't a Camaro to be found but a random big black car - a 1976 Oldsmobile 442, which I had no appreciation for at the time. (With the utmost appreciation and adoration - that very car sits in our garage today). My vain self at the time nearly drove off - where was the Bad-Ass Camaro? But, I moved beyond my young vain self, and got in that big black car. I was drawn to his smile, his rebellious side, his love of life, scandalous as it was.
*3 Years Together (Ronnie's Senior Prom)
I don't remember much after that, except we went to a local parking spot, Athens Lake. We talked for hours, and made out like crazy. We talked about everything and nothing. He was the easiest person I'd ever talked to, like I had known him since birth. It was like the world ceased to exist, and it was just the two of us. Chemistry doesn't seem like the word to explain it - connection, love, soulmates, all of the above. I trusted him blindly back then and I trust him even more today as my husband of 20 years.
*15 Years Together
*20 years together
I love who we were together as kids, the growing up we've done together, the careers we've supported each other through, the family we've created and the adults we've become. I love that we happened to meet by chance that day. Soulmates destined to meet and create this imperfect, perfect life together.
*25 Years Together
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous. Love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in righteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . . . . (1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13). *This was read on our wedding day - May 23, 1998.
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