We choose "us"...

Today my husband and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We married one month and three days after September 11, 2001. At a time of tremendous grief and sadness for our country, with the future so uncertain, for us, it made sense. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Never have I had such a combination of values and compatibility rolled into one man. There is not one day that goes by, in the 9 years I have known him, we don't share laughter. When either of us come home it is to welcome arms and serenity. Our home is so peaceful, cozy and calm, because of both of us. We are in sync and on the same page, most of the time...

I suppose if we each had not gone through what we had to go through, to get here, we may not be together. It was the right time for both of us. After much urging from my Mother, believe it or not, I placed a singles ad. I had the ad for almost a year, when I changed the wording and added the word eclectic. A few days later, while he was going through his mail, talking to a friend, his friend told my future husband, he had met a wonderful woman in a singles ad...

Curious, he flipped through the Pennysaver that had come in the mail. He was browsing the singles ad, when his eye fell upon the word eclectic. He read my ad, and ended up calling me and leaving a message. I was away for the weekend with my Mom, and allowed her to listen. I called him back and told him I would return the following Monday and maybe we could talk further.

We talked for a couple months and then on April 12, 2000, we met at an Italian restaurant in Riverside. He lived in Riverside and I worked there, so I met him that night after work. I was not attracted to him physically at first, but I LOVED his laugh and I felt very comfortable with him. We agreed we both felt friendship was the basis for any solid friendship, so that is where we began...

Once I got to know him, I became very attracted. By September, we pretty much knew we wanted it to be exclusive. The following April, one year later, at the same restaurant we met, he proposed and I accepted. I am so grateful to have met this wonderful man, my friend, and the love of my life. We choose "us".