I wasn't sure if I was going to join this particular challenge because I know what ever you put on the internet is there forever and ever for anyone and everyone to see.

That said, most of the people that join and participate in the challenges I've grown to trust, so here goes.

I married soon after graduating from high school, and it was a huge mistake. Tried a second time with the same result. So 15 years have gone by, I decided to just give up. That didn't work out either; a year later I was engaged again, but this time I slowed it down a bit, only to receive a phone call that my fiancé was moving out...That one really hurt for many reasons especially because she was injured in a work related accident and broke both of the bones in her lower leg right above the ankle. I literally did everything for her, including carrying her up and down the stairs at the house I had purchased for us since we were planning on getting married. I insisted on putting her name on the mortgage even though I paid all the bills. She was out of work for 8 months, which was fine with me, as long as she got healthy and we'd be together. Long story short, I had to "buy" her out even though she had no financial interest whatsoever. The next four years I dated casually, and I dated often. My realtor gave me a call one night and told me she knew the perfect woman for me and arranged a meeting. When I first saw Sally, I knew I had finally found the right person. Four months later, we were married on August 21, 1987...we'll celebrate our 34th anniversary this year, and we are closer today than we've ever been...Glory to God!

Tim

Love the stories. I'll do ours before challenge is up. But this is a different kind of love story. You know and feel "connections" and others can see it. Our youngest grandson, Isaiah, and Jim, my husband, have been best buds since the day Isaiah was born. Isaiah had a double whammy - a stroke before birth and cognitive disabilities. He has always responded to Jim, if "P" eats something, so will Isaiah, if Jim has a birthday, Isaiah helps open presents and blows out candles. He needs to sit next to Jim wherever we are (dinner table, a restaurant) and is his shadow. He just looks at "P" with adoring eyes. After nap - he crawls next to "P" on the couch and soon both are snoring. Isaiah love to push things and about 4 years ago he made a "push toy" from an old paint striper. Fixed like a piece of John Deere equipment and stuck a toy ground hog in where the paint can would be - the groundhog bobs up and down - it's a toy he still plays with and is an all time favorite. The pandemic has been hard as we haven't seen them often at all. A week ago they came for Sunday dinner and as Isaiah came up the walk and saw us, he started crying (he is 11). His words are few but the tears seemed to mean he really missed us - and he stuck to "P" for the afternoon.

A little bit of humor in the love story of my life. My love bunny and I had been both married before (to others)
and were best friends and talking about getting married. I was ready but she was a bit hesitant based on her previous marriage experience. So we're on a ski tip to Tahoe and it's Easter Sunday but all the ski areas/lifts are shut down due to blizzard conditions. Well, after several rounds of adult beverages at the local boozery, she said "OK, let's get married". We drove over to the NV side and found one of those delightful drive-in 24 hour wedding joints and went in. The guy at the front desk asked what we wanted and we replied to get married. He told us OK, but give him some time to "summon" the preacher. This guy shows up, dressed like some kinda clergyman but was bobbing and weaving and blinkin' like a toad in a hailstorm (we believe he was drunk , stoned or whatever). I'll spare you all the hilarious details but he did the wedding thing and then we were married. Then I asked him to take our picture with my little film Kodak camera. Please view the result attached the only photo from this memorable event. Still madly in love with my wife of 38 years. chase