Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Valentine

I met Mr. M in a roller rink, of all places. He was an employee there, and I a frequent customer. One evening, as I was skating around, he ran into me - though if you ask him what happened, he'll tell you I ran into him. Either way, I fell for him - literally. It didn't take long for him to ask me out, and the rest, as they say, is history. Four years later we were tying the knot and rolling happily away together (in a car this time) towards the unknown future.

By the grace of God, that knot is still tied, and we've lived out our marriage vows to the fullest. Better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health: we've had them all. For a long time now it's been more sickness and less health (and even less money), but still we manage to enjoy life together. Thirty-two years since I met him, almost twenty-eight since I married him, and Mr. M is still my favourite person and my best friend. If I could choose to spend a day with anyone on earth, I'd choose him.

Two quotes come to mind when I think of our life as it is today. The first is by Maria von Trapp: "We're not poor - we just don't have any money." The second is by L.M. Montgomery: "...It don't never matter how poor you are as long as you've got something to love."

Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. M. I love you.


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And Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Who is your favourite person? (It need not be a spouse or lover.) How did you meet?

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50 comments:

  1. What a sweet post and loving homage to your life partner, Sue. You have mastered the true values in a relationship.

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  2. Oh, Sue, this was so sweet! Thank you for sharing it! Brett has been asking me for a whole month now how the two of you met, and I think both of us assumed you probably met on bikes. Wrong wheels, but still on wheels!!!

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    1. Yes - four wheels instead of two. And the only reason I took up cycling was that Mr. M loved it! And I loved him. ;)

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  3. PS: He also wants to know how you wound up in Wisconsin...

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    1. We came here to be with my sister and to escape the SoCal rat race.

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  4. I hope Mr M knows how lucky he is to have you as his wife, friend and partner.
    Happy V-Day,
    Meredith

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  5. What a touching story! Your way with words brings me to tears - in a good way! You two are very lucky! My spouse (of almost 43 yrs) and I were both working at a country club and we met in the walk-in refrigerator!

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  6. That's a gorgeous story Sue, thanks for sharing it. Andy and I met at a really small jazz festival held on the green around the corner form where we both lived across the road from each other without having ever seen each other before! Its been a happy roller coaster ride since then xox Happy V day to you and your Mr.M x Penelope

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    1. Thank you, Penelope. Mr. M and I lived in the same town but had never met before. And it turned out we were both born in the same hospital (in another county where both of our families were living at the time)!

      A roller coaster is a good way to describe things. Hope your ride continues to be happy. :)

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  7. What a sweet story of meeting up. I haven't rollerskated since I was 12. Tried ice skating many years ago with friends and boy was that a slippery situation. :) Hubby and I met on a blind date ... nearly 21 years ago, yep ... the rest is history. Hugs, Tammy

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    1. Wow, a blind date. I think that's very romantic. :)

      Thanks, Tammy!

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  8. Those quotes are wonderful. Mr K and I were college sweethearts but all was not always well - I remember saying to my housemates after a rather disastrous first date (another story!)I hope I never have to see him again! Twenty four years on we're still going strong and I feel so very lucky to have had someone to share them with x

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    1. I'm so glad it went from worse to better, and not the other way round. :)

      Thanks for commenting!

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  9. Lovely, Dear One!!!

    Happy Valentine's Day,
    "Auntie"

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  10. Not enough health, not enough money, but more than enough love to compensate for that ... you could be describing my life Sue! I wouldn't be with anyone else, for all my Mr's faults. Happy Valentine's Day to you and your beau :D

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    1. Thank you, Annie ... and the same to you and Mr Knitso. :)

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  11. Awww! tearing up. Happy Valentines Day <3

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    1. And to you and Ryan. (Are you off on some romantic trip?)

      :)

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  12. Tearing up here too. What a lovely expression of your love for each other.
    We met in college in 1962..gasp, yes we are that old. He won me at a fundraising auction (politically incorrect today, I know)and we have been poor as church mice, on the ups and downs, but still here together. I have learned so much from him, and for that I am eternally grateful. He's upbeat and positive and a true achiever. It's not been an easy ride at times, but it has been worth the work and effort. I am so blessed.

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    1. Gosh, you've made me feel young (I was born in '62). :)

      He picked a winner, that's all I can say.

      Thanks, Ellen.

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  13. Yup, tears! So sweet. The two of you are fortunate. :-) Lots of love here!

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    1. Thanks, Astri! I'd love to know how you and the NVO got together ... hint hint ... :)

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  14. What a sweet love story. I love couples who find their one and only and stay together. The Hubs and I met when we both were working at a food distribution company, I in bookkeeping and he on the delivery truck. He actually made a smart remark comparing me to a sack of potatoes and.....here we are 40 years later, still happily married and friends to boot.

    Sharon

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    1. Rather an unpromising beginning (but really no more unpromising than Mr. M knocking me to the floor) - and such a wonderful outcome!

      Thanks Sharon. :)

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  15. Sue, thank you for sharing the story of you and Mr. M. - how beautiful and fun! Gerrit and I met at a company meeting in Nottingham, England (I know - eat your heart out), but our courtship didn't start until we met again at the next company meeting 16 months later in the Chicago suburbs. We were married almost 23 years.

    Happy Valentine's Day to you both.

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    1. That is very sweet. I can imagine him thinking about you from one meeting to the next....

      :)

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  16. Mrs. Micawber ! It is always so inspiring to get to know such old relations which still kept love and a kind heart in them! I sent this post's' link to my husband :) Today is 2 years and 8 months since the day of our marriage, and I'd like us also carry our love through many more years ahead :)You can read my love story here http://hindustanka.blogspot.in/2011/06/how-story-began-removing-distances.html
    Have a happy weekend filled with love! God bless you and Mr. M.

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    1. Happy 2.8 anniversary! I will follow your link and read your love story now....

      Thank you, Anna. :)

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  17. Such joy, Sue! You are an inspiration in so many fields of life for us! It sounds like it's Happy Valentine's Day most days in your little household.

    My favourite person? A very good question, Sue. I cannot help but think that there are favourite people for different situations. I think what I mean to say is that one person cannot fulfill all my needs. I adore my best friend (since we were eleven) but I rarely see her. I adore my three children with a passion. I think my husband is the person I would most like to spend a day with; no complications (when everyday life doesn't get in the way too much), a lot of laughter and positive thinking too.

    Happy, happy Valentine's Life to you, Sue!

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    1. Thank you, Stephanie. You're right about having different favourite people for different situations. Mr. M is my overall favourite person, but when it comes to knitting or crocheting my sister is my preferred companion. And for sheer silliness and laughter and the freedom to say anything that comes to mind, my old best friend from high school is the perfect companion. :)

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  18. My favorite person is my husband, we've been through it all together and there's no one I'd rather be with.

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  19. What a touching story. I always knew you were very goat-like. Now I know it. You got Mr. M by butting him. That is a true goat soul in action. Way to go! Love is what it is all about. Who cares about all the rest...except for the Peanuts. :)

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    1. Yes, love is what it's all about. And Chocolate. :)

      And I still maintain that he butted me.

      Thanks Marigold!

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  20. Such a lovely story - and really, what is more important than true love? I think it would be so much worse to go through life without it. Here's to many more years, and a little more health and money if possible too. Juliex

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  21. OH I love your roller rink beginnings. WE met at Mcdonalds. I taught him on the French fry station.

    I LOVE my husband. So very much

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    1. Love your story! Salty and sweet. ;)

      Thanks Kathy.

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  22. What a sweet and lovely post.
    I used to roller skate all the time. I didn't meet the Mr. there though.
    I changed schools (college) and a new friend invited me to a party she was giving. She introduced me to her "best friend" and at the end of the evening he asked me out. (My friend was NOT happy. Turns out she wanted him. I really didn't know that.) 11 months later we married. 35 years 1 month. ;)

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    1. And does she still speak to you? Let the best woman win. :)

      Thanks Beth!

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  23. What a lovely tribute to the love of you life! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  24. What a wonderful post! It reminded me that my grandmother met my grandfather at a skating rink. (Who knew those places were so romantic?) When she passed, she gave me the bracelet he gave her which she never never took off.

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    1. That is very romantic indeed. Thanks for passing it on! :)

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  25. Fits just fine, and I'm glad, I can see your lovely pics even better Sue.

    When you make changes to your blog layout and want to know how they look on different devices and browsers try browsershots.org, I find it really useful :)

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