Unlucky 13...Nah!!

May 30th has special significance to Cheney and me.  The first significant date was May 30, 1997 - my last day in Alaska.  After talking on the phone for 6 months because we were 3,000 miles apart, I finally made a trip back to Alaska to visit.  When I initially purchased my plane tickets, Cheney and I were not in a relationship.  But over that 6 months, we became serious really fast.  Cheney just happened to be flying south for a few weeks and was able to rearrange his flight to pick me up in Baton Rouge.  We had our first date on May 15, 1997, and left for Alaska the next morning.  Somewhere over East Texas, we decided to get married.  So, for the next 2 weeks, we "dated" in Alaska since we had never had the opportunity before.  After 2 weeks there, on May 30th Cheney took me to the airport to fly back to Louisiana.  There were tears shed - on both sides - because we would not get to see each other for 7 months.  So, we decided that we make our wedding date May 30th, 1998.

During the year of our engagement, Cheney and I saw each other at Christmas for about 3 weeks, then again in March when his Dad died.  So, in all, we had 8 weeks of face to face interaction before we were married.

Now, 13 years later, we've had lots of highs and lots of lows, but we have survived.  Instead of a top 10 list, here's my Top 13!

13.  Our honeymoon train trip!  Instead of taking a traditional extravaggant honeymoon, we boarded Amtrak in Hammond, LA to head to Seattle.  Cheney booked us a sleeper car (with bunkbeds) and we relaxed the entire 3 days.  We had 1 stop in Chicago - long enough to head to the Sears Tower and enjoy a Chicago style pizza.

12.  Our nightly walks out to Auke Bay Harbor while living in Alaska.

11.  When Cheney rescued me after a car accident - the hood of the car flew up and hit the windshield while I was driving in morning rush hour traffic on I5 in Seattle.  After it happened, I somehow climbed a 10 foot fence to get to a phone to call him.  I've never been more thankful to see his car drive up.  Then, I had a new car a few days later :)

10.  The fact that Cheney appreciates my shoe fettish and completely supports it by buying me shoes for all of the big events in my life - birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines, Christmas.  There hasn't been an occasion that he has missed yet.

9.  Our road trips across the US - without ever turning a radio on.  The car was filled with laughter, tears, and quality conversation.

8.  Our LATE night convos.  There are many nights where we stay up until 4 lying in the bed just talking about life and where we are headed.

7.  Cheney doesn't hate me because I don't cook every night! 

6.  Cheney is okay with a little clutter and doesn't expect our house to be spotless all the time.  Otherwise, we would have no peace!

5. Cheney prefers me in jeans and a t-shirt or shorts and a tank top with flip flops (making sure I have an alternative pair of shoes in the car, just in case we go hiking) instead of all gussied up.  It sure takes a lot of pressure off of me.

4. I love the fact that Cheney gets involved in my job almost as much as I do - he helps the kids that need help, provides for those who have no one to help them, and takes time to get to know my students.

3. We are on the same page as far as decorating - everything must have a story - and if it takes forever to find the perfect piece, that's okay.

2. Through our darkest days, Cheney took care of me, and if he couldn't be there, he made sure someone else was.  The tragedy of losing a baby threw me for a loop, but he put me first and walked me through it for a LONG time.

1. He loves me for me - faults and all - and has stayed around for 13 years when I've been unlovable sometimes.

Comments

Ziggy said…
I love this. You are fortunate to have found such a precious love.
Shasta Looper said…
Thanks Ziggy!! I agree, I'm very fortunate!