Anniversary

There was a group of neighborhood kids playing & swimming at the pool one summer. They met every weekend, and spent the entire day taking turns jumping off the diving board. They would challenge each other to do different jumps, and each take their turn. Then they'd play Marco Polo. Then they'd do it all over again and again. And by the end of the day, they were all extremely sunburned. How fun to be a kid!

One weekend, there was a guy from the neighborhood at the pool. While none of the kids' parents were there, it was sometimes necessary to referree the games, make sure no one was running, and keep them from getting hurt. This guy fit the bill. He would also join in the games of jumping off the diving board, taking any challenge given to him head on.

After one particular day at the pool, one of the girls ran home exhausted and starving. As she ate dinner she told her single mom about the day. Then she said, "Mom you should come with me next weekend. There's a nice man named Mike who made sure we didn't hurt ourselves. You'd like him." The following weekend, her mom went with her to the pool. Sure enough, she also thought Mike was a very nice guy. He only lived a few doors down from them in the neighborhood, and he was in the Air Force. He was going TDY and asked the woman and her daughter if they would water his plants while he was gone.

Two years later, on the day after the little girl's 12th birthday, they married. January 2, 1982. That little girl was me.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!