What's Forever For Anymore?

[jceman 1]

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I know this is a little late, but I have a happy story:

I copied and edited the following from a thread Jessica started about how people met:

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I met Lynn when we were both in second grade and my family moved into the same neighborhood as hers. She doesn't remember back to that, but why would she? I was just another of the boys in the neigborhood. Lynn, on the other had, was the best athlete around and more than a little tomboy. When we got up a neighborhood baseball game, she would be one of the very first chosen, I was always last. She went to Catholic school, I went to Lutheran.

Fast forward to high school. First I learn that her name is Lynn; we had always called her Penny, as that was her family's nick for her. She always had one boyfriend and got rid of him by summer (hey, someone had to carry that alto sax to school, sure wasn't going to be her!); I went with a couple different girls but never anything serious. We went on more than a couple double dates.

When homecoming rolled around our senior year, my best friend and I had decided we were going to skip the dance and take in a movie after the football game. Hah!

Lynn was in her second year as president of the Girl's Athletic Association and as such automatically on the homecoming court, she had no boyfriend and had told her friends she was not going to have one this year. Hah!

On Tuesday night of homecoming we were working on the senior float and someone needed to get some supplies, Bob and I volunteered. When we returned we had to walk through a small room to get into the garage space where construction was being done and as we did, we were surrounded by ten or so of our classmates of the feminine persuasion. One of them spoke up and said "Bob and Jack, you are taking Lynn and Sharon to Homecoming!" in a tone that clearly would brook no disagreement. I looked at Bob and told him that I had always wanted to ask Lynn out so if he would ask Sharon it would work for me, he agreed.

I went home and gave Lynn a call to ask her if she would go to the dance with me, figuring, "What the hey. I know it's late, but if she says no, so what?". Not like it was my idea anyway. She said fine and I agreed to pick her up at her house after the game. We couldn't go to the game together as she was in the band (remember the alto sax?).

A good time was had by all and we even went to a movie the next week. I was stunned the next week when she asked me to the Sadie Hawkins Dance, but not as stunned as our classmates. Things progressed from there. I carried that damned alto sax the whole year.

That ultimatum was given to us on October 5, 1965. Sorry to say things didn't workout as well for Bob and Sharon.

And yes, I have thanked those ladies. The alto sax? It's descendant is in our bedroom closet.

August 3 will be the celebration of 38 years of marriage -- while there are small things I'd change, I'm afraid she's stuck with me.

I'm very happy that she is and she tells me the feeling is mutual.

Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money.

Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them?

[steveorino 7]

I've been married to the lovely Sherry for 32+ years. My daughter was married 6 years ago on my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. 6, 32, 56, it all takes work and commitment from both sides.

Sherry & I have had our fair share of problems. But I think we long ago decided we'd stick it out despite our extreme differences. Opposites attract, but opposites attack! Our faith in Christ (which is not popular among many skydivers) has given us something bigger than ourselves to hold on to in tough times.

One reason I think our marriage is better the last 5 years than the first 25+ is when our kids started leaving the nest (and returning ) I realized our lives had been wrapped up in work and raising kids. My work was losing my interest as fast as our kids were leaving. I decided then we'd have a date night every Friday. We try to keep that date. It may mean saying no to some things I like or Sherry coming to a demo at a football game and going out to eat afterwards, but we try to keep that time special.

I love that woman!

steveOrino