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A Love Story

Wedding Day

Twenty-four years ago today, I married my true love and best friend. But our love story began long before April 9, 1988.

At fifteen, I was tall, lanky, studious, and shy compared to most girls my age, yet eager to fit in despite lacking social graces. I survived adolescent crushes and ventured into dating. None of those boys, however, made me swoon like the heroes in my favorite novels. Night after night, I’d gaze into the starry darkness from my bedroom window, dreaming of the perfect romance.

The Michael Buble song, I Just Haven’t Met You Yet, reminds me of that yearning optimism I had as a teen.

I met my future husband autumn of ’83. He was a very confident, handsome guy with a great sense of humor, a potent combination as far as I was concerned. We hung in the same circles and kept bumping into each other, although I focused on my studies and dating guys I felt were more in my league. My future husband and I had a playful, friendly relationship, but it didn’t go any further than that.

Until months later, he stole a kiss. I began to suspect he was the one, but I didn’t want to believe it. At that point I had a love interest back home and figured he did too.

Sophomore year of college, he’d walk me home Saturday nights whenever my roommate wasn’t available. I began to share my accomplishments and sorrows with him. He offered emotional support after my breakup with a boy back home. We talked about our childhoods, our aspirations, our religious beliefs, just about everything. We’d become best friends.

Then he ruined everything by asking me out on a date. I had to refuse. What if things didn’t work out? Luckily for our love story, he wasn’t easily dissuaded. He brought me flowers. He asked me to a movie. He courted me.

And we lived happily ever after.

Well, not so fast. Our road to marriage was a bumpy one at times, both of us having grown into strong-minded, focused young adults, intent on making our way in the world while trying to figure out how to fit our lives together.  The 2005 movie A Lot Like Love, starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet, reminds me a bit of our real-life romance:

As we’ve wound our ways through the years,

we’ve lived our marriage vows,

loving each other

for better for worse,

in good times and in bad,

through sickness and health.

Twenty seven years after our first date, we’re still best friends, and we’re still crazy in love with each other. Happy anniversary, sweetheart.

That’s our love story. What’s yours? 

23 comments on “A Love Story

  1. Mmmm. I met my hubby when I was 14, and he was 21. He was dating another ballet dancer (much older than me) and we all said, Adriel is dating HIM?!!! (He was tall, skinny, funny-looking.) Three years later I fell hard for him…and we’ve been married now for 32 years. Huzzah!

  2. Sorry, I’m late, Jolyse…Happy Anniversary! Beautiful story and so happy for you. I found the love of my life just 4 years ago and we celebrated our 2yr anniversary 3 wks ago. My first marriage had a strong foundation of friendship which kept us together 28 yrs. Sadly he passed away some time ago. Good as he was, it was not the head-over-heels love that i have now plus the deep friendship. I do consider myself lucky twice over. So, what did you two do to celebrate?

    1. I like your love story just as much! I’m certain your two loves felt as blessed by your friendship as you have. Congrats on finding true love. I’m so grateful I did, and feel for those still searching.

  3. I’ll be celebrating an anniversary this month as well. Congratulations, Jolyse! Perhaps I should share my story later this month on my blog. It’s a good one. Basically, I married the guy next door. We’re at 19 years and going strong.

  4. 27 years! Holy Cow! Congratulations!
    I met my husband when I was just 17. We both worked at KMart. He was covered in peat moss from working in the garden center. All I noticed was the cute smile.

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