A Love Story

Today I am linking up with two other blogs!  I am sharing my "love story" for a link up with Wonder Woman Wannabe.  

 I think it will also count as a Feel Good Friday post at The Girl Next Door Grows Up!

So, here goes...

In 1997, I was a wild and crazy single girl woman.  I had dated and dated, but just had not found a guy I really wanted to spend any time with.  My friends kept trying to set me up and of course, it never worked out.  Finally, I feel like I came to a place where I was happy.  I was working and having fun with family (I had a new niece that I was spoiling rotten!) and just hanging out with friends.  I decided I was good, didn't need to join the convent, but didn't need to be on the prowl either.

I have a good friend who is a guy, not gay, who I hung out with all the time.  We worked together too.  One day he says to me, "You should meet my neighbor."  I'm thinking, "How have I not met all of your neighbors already???  We are always together!"  But I say, "Don't do me any favors.  I really don't want to be set up!"

After a while, I gave in.  But with conditions.  I told him, he could bring him over to my place and we would cook out.  There had to be other people there as well because, if I didn't like him I wanted to have other people to talk to!  So we set up an evening and my friend put out the invitation.  Later, I get a call from the guy saying thanks for the invite, but he can't make it.  He has bible study.  Yes, I could not believe it!  I was beginning to think maybe I DID want to meet this guy!  Not only did he have manners, but he was a Christian who attended bible study!!  Well, he asks if we can reschedule, so we do.

My friend and I stuck with the original plan and invited others to come for a bbq and everyone shows up.  When my blind date comes in, all I can think is, wow, that guy is so cute!  Why is he single?  What's wrong with him?  (Later, he tells me he thought the same about me!) 

So, the night goes on, we have a great time.  Great conversation, us sitting at the table with our friends outside peeking in the windows at us trying to figure out if we are having fun, and realizing we have a lot in common!  We had such a good time together, we made plans to see each other the next night.  We made a date to go out to eat with a couple that he was great friends with.  I guess he needed approval from them.

Well, I guess he got it, because we saw each other every single day after that.  My family fell in love with Greg just as quickly as I did.  Just like any girl, I had my wedding all worked up in my head.  The only problem was, he took his sweet time asking me to marry him!  In 1999, my dad passed away.  He was very sick with cancer for a long time.  I was heartbroken, but Greg was right there with me the whole way.  I was really sad though, that my dad would never be there at my wedding to walk me down the aisle.

The following year, Greg and I were spending Thanksgiving together, alone.  My mom had moved out of state and Greg's family lived out of state as well.  That day I was in such a funk.  I was glad to be with him, but so sad not to be with family.  I missed my dad so much.  Greg knew I was sad.  He was hugging me and drying my tears.  All of a sudden he said, "Would you cheer up if I asked you to marry me?"

I was all...WHAT???  I was so surprised!  It was the furthest thing from my mind at that moment.  Then he reached over and picked up a hat off the counter.  Under it was this beautiful red box with my beautiful ring in it.  Yes, it cheered me up! 

We were married almost a year later.  All of our family was there.  My brothers, all 4 of them, gave me away.  And Greg wears my sweet father's wedding ring, given to us by my mom.  The one he wore for almost 50 years.

My mom said, "I know how much he loved Greg, he would want him to wear it."

I hope that he will wear it for 50 years.  Or more.

Happy Valentines Day!