can it really be true??

In *two* days, on the first of May, my dear husband and I will celebrate our 16th anniversary. Well, one of three that is lol.

1 May, 1992, 5 months after we first met, was the day that Don and I went to the courthouse in downtown El Paso and said "I do". I was wearing a dress a friend loaned to me, and he had on an Amway suit. We used the engagement ring that was willed to me by my grandmother because we didn't really expect this marriage to last (none of his friends gave us over 6 months. Ironically, all of them are now divorced...go figure!). Even though he was in the Army, we didn't go to counseling (thank goodness lol), and didn't have to deal with the 24 hour wait because he was supposed to be deployed to Saudi Arabia soon. When it was all over, we got in the car and chain-smoked all the way to Santa Theresa Country Club to be part of the El Paso Center for the Deafs' Charity Casino Night. Doesn't that seem romantic??

Actually, it does get romantic. After the Casino Night was over, Don and I were driving home and stopped at the top of Transmountain. There is a beautiful overlook there that, on a clear night, you can see forever. We sat on the low stone fence and, with my hands in his, he looked at me and said, "What would you say if I told you I loved you?" You see, until now, Don and I had never uttered those words to each other. Sure, he told his friends that he loved me (actually, he called a buddy of his after we got married and his bud harrassed him because he *still* hadn't said anything lol), and I told my friends I loved him, but we never got around to saying it to the one who needed to hear it. After a minute, I said...

"I'd probably say I love you too."

And so it began. Day one of the rest of our lives. Day one of a marriage that my parents never knew about. Day one of the *first* marriage from the *first* wedding that would parlay itself into 16 years and counting.

Oh yeah, the other two weddings. 12 December 1992, the one my parents were involved in but *his* parents didn't hear about for another three months, and 5 May 2007, our 15 year renewal on Cinco De Mayo, the coolest holiday of all. No, no divorces inbetween...just one never-sent-in marriage certificate...I think the 12 December one...not sure anymore lol.

There is a lot left between the cracks of this story, but I don't want to bore you. I just think about it, sit back, and smile. It has been a wonderful 16 years, crazy, whacked-out, scary, life-changing 16 years...and I wouldn't change a minute of it.

Two more days...16 years... Life is good, and we are truly blessed.

Out of our minds, but definitely blessed :).

\IiiI