Tag Archives: true love

MFEO

I remember in Sleepless in Seattle when young friend Jessica, who knew how to book flights on her parents’ credit cards when only travel agents knew how to do that, spoke mainly in initials. Her parents didn’t have a clue but that didn’t stop Tom Hanks.

My husband and I first met a couple of weeks after 9/11 when the world was reeling and everyone had a story to tell. He’d been laid off (dot-bombed) and moved away for a few weeks only to get a new job in town. I found him a townhome about 1,000 feet from my condo and he had no furniture and absolutely nothing in the kitchen.

One day I walked 1/2 mile to the mall where there was a grocery store, a Trader Joe’s and a Pier One and I saw picardie glasses on sale. I picked one up and it was suitable for him, heavy and nearly indestructable. So I bought it, Eighteen glasses in three sizes for about $18. I started home and dang those glasses were heavy. I stopped every few hundred feet to rest, then decided I would leave them on his protected front porch and hoof it the rest of the way home without them.

Arriving home I got my messages and he’d called saying he was home sick and needed to take medicine and didn’t have a glass to drink from. “Look out on your front porch.” Voila! MFEO. Somehow I knew just what he needed and it was sitting right there for him to use. Perfect, made for each other. We married a year later.

Now, we’re moving again. I came across the box and even the inserts to put between glasses. Only about eight of the originals remain after all these years but it was fun remembering those early days together. Of course as a cook I had more than enough kitchen equipment for both places, and moved most of it over to his place because I had to cook there. I had a cat back then and he was so allergic he couldn’t even step inside my front door! Now I just have to wash the dog every two weeks to keep down the dander. No more cats, sadly.

Whatever happened, we rolled with the punches and came out of it better than when we started. Let’s hope this move works for us as well, because moving is a real pain! Take care, and remember to VOTE! Dee

Numbers

1958, 1960, 1966, 1969 – birth years for me and all my siblings

1957 – year mom and dad got married

1964 – the Word’s Fair, globe and Sinclair Dino-Land

1980 – I graduated Deans’ List, my mother graduated Summa Cum Laude.  Voted for Reagan

1982 – policy wonk. liberal side

1987 – lobbyist

1989 – culinary student, full-time, all savings gone

1989 – consultant

1997 – unpaid advocate

1999 – Board member, unpaid advocate, consultant

2001 – Met the love of my life

2002 – Gave up boards, unpaid advocacy and consulting where they didn’t pay the bills.

2003 – Eloped

2011 – looking out at the mountains with my husband and dog, not wanting to do life all over again, especially the teen years.

Tell me your story some day. I always love a good story, cheers, Dee

Dates

Now here’s one I remember.  I remember getting off a ship in Greece and going to Italy where I was supposed to fly home.  9/11 interfered with that plan.  With multiple visits to the airline and consulate I was delayed nearly a week.

During that time I joined Italians in the Piazzia Signoria as 500 of us held hands while the bell tolled then stopped so we could pray.  I also went to Mass with the Consulate staff.  We got to know each other.  Now the street is blocked off and there are armed guards every few feet.

So when I finally got home through Rome I was never so happy to be on American soil. Two weeks later, at lunch at a local TGI Fridays I met my husband.  I say that because I thought I had the dates right.  We met at TGI Fridays and talked for three hours and left with each others’ numbers.

The next night he called and asked me to a movie and dinner, took my hand as he helped me from the car and he’s never let go.  We met on October 3, 2001, and went out for our first date the next day, Thursday, October 4, 2001.  Then he helped me on 14 visits over the weekend to take care of my neighbors’ pets.

I’m wondering which day to celebrate, the day of our meeting or our first date.  We should have dinner, at least, and not one I cook.  He is amazed that I remember these dates and that next year we will celebrate our 10th anniversary of marriage.

Perhaps he sees our nearly eight year-old dog aging and wonders about us.  After all, we don’t see ourselves growing older.

Since we eloped and took a two-day honeymoon in Las Vegas , it might still be time to do something special just for us.  We have always been aware of the needs of our families and have tried to meet them.  Sometimes they are unattainable or we fall short.  We always try.

I know I was raised well, met my Prince Charming at age 40 and we are living happily ever after, always seeking adventure in work challenges and places to live in the way that we wish to do so.

I can only hope that when you take someone’s hand for the first time you know that it is your future that you are holding.  Cherish it.  Nurture it.  Make it real and true. D