In one week and one day, we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. I’m trying to comprehend how fast the time has gone. May 29, 1987, was it all that long ago?
When I think back over the past 35 years, I realize that we have been together longer than we had been alive when we met. We were 20 and 21. Just a couple of young kids.
December 21, 1984, we both decided to go to the Monte Club. I wasn’t planning on going out that night, but my friends and brother coaxed me to go. Scott wasn’t planning on going out either, but his friend told him that a good band was playing there. Our meeting was fated.
Scott saw me walk by and decided to come over to our table. We talked and then he asked me to dance. We danced a fast song and then a slow one. Sister Christian by Night Ranger was our first slow dance and later became “our song.”
Our first date was eight days later, December 29th. We were headed to Mama G’s in Corcoran. As we pull up to the four way stop, a county squad is across from us. We pull into the parking lot, with red lights flashing behind. I’m thinking, “What is going on?” Is this really happening? Scott’s front license plate had fallen off and was up on the dash by the windshield – needless to say, he did get a ticket. Despite the mishap, we still had a good first date and a lifetime of dates to come. Almost three years later, we married.
There were many twists and turns leading up to the wedding. We originally were planning a Saturday in May at the Methodist Church in Buffalo - pending the completion of the remodeling project. This was fall 1986.
Late winter 1987, we find out the church wouldn’t be ready in time for our wedding. We had to find another church in town.
The Zion Lutheran Church only had availability in May for a Friday. We hadn’t thought about an evening wedding, but a candlelit service sounded nice. We chose May 29th and sent out the invitations.
The changing of the church and a Friday evening wedding caused another change. Our reception was originally set at the River Inn in Monticello and now it was going to be at the Buffalo Legion. Updated invites had to be sent out.
The evening wedding was beautiful and set the course for our lives together.
Like all good love stories, tragedy strikes. Six months after being married, the farmhouse we were renting in Hanover had a furnace explosion. Scott suffered third degree burns on his hands and first and second degree burns on his face. He spent 17 days in the burn unit. Skin grafts, therapy and the grace of God, he was ok. A big challenge of adversity for a young married couple, but we made it through.
Life’s greatest blessings, our daughters, Chyanne and Mariah came into the picture and made us a family. Our lives changed for the better. It was busy and the years flew by at warp speed.
Both daughters graduated high school, then college and left home. Everything we had been doing up to that point was for them. Now we were back to just us. What would our life be like?
Both of us had job changes and decided to start a painting business. A joint venture that led to working together.
Like everyone, we have had our share of ups and downs, tough times, disagreements, frustrations, etc. Luckily for us, laughter has always been the best medicine and our grandchildren help with that!
After all these years, we still enjoy each other’s company. We like a lot of the same things, yet we have things we will do on our own. We can complete each other’s sentences, sense when something is wrong and even buy the same card. We have similar thoughts and views on life, family, people, dogs and the Vikings. Our personalities mesh well and we bring the best out in each other.
A perfect marriage - umm, no. There is no such thing. A relationship is as unique as the people.
A lot of living, loving and life has happened in 35 years. We’ve grown and changed. The one constant that remains strong is love. Happy Anniversary honey, here’s to another 35!
