A Love Story.

The first time he saw her was in the cafeteria at high school. She was young — just a freshman — and he thought she was cute. What he noticed immediately was her huge smile. It spread from ear-to-ear, and lit up the whole room. It was clear she was reserved, but it would be some time before he found out just how shy she really was.

He was rebounding from a breakup with his first love. That’s tough, and if you’ve ever been through it, you know how much it hurts, and what a confusing time it can be. He was currently dating a crush he’d had since junior high school, but it was on and off, because of his own immaturity, and it was now cooling off.

He was outgoing, and fairly popular, and president of his Junior class. But mostly he just loved being a musician, and playing music for Jesus. As fate would have it, the younger sister of the crush he was dating, was herself dating another musician — a young keyboard player. They met one evening and formed an instant friendship.

The keyboard player’s cousin was the shy girl from the cafeteria.

They were introduced for the first time at a school music program. And as the musician friends began to hang out together, so did the shy girl hang around as well. And so the friendship began.

She was beyond shy. Not popular — not because she couldn’t be, but because she didn’t want to be. She was nearly an introvert. But for some reason, not with him. Oh, she was always quiet — still is, to this day — but she could talk to him. And she would listen as he would unload all the hurt from his recent breakups. She was a good listener. They would secretly talk on the phone until the wee hours of the morning, whispering into the phones to each other as they hid in their beds. And the friendship blossomed.

They were accused of secretly dating long before they actually were. In fact, as the accusations flew among their friends and family, he took her aside to assure her his intentions were only to be friends, and that he wasn’t interested in dating her romantically. She nodded in agreement, but he knew later she was hurt to find the friendship would go no further.

But he was stupid. And it only took him a few weeks to figure it out. She was a great girl. Quiet, and shy, and cute, and supportive, and loyal, and loving. And they had developed into great friends. And he loved being with her — near her. Two days after Christmas, 1986, he asked her for a date, and kissed her for the first time. Oh boy…

Dating for them was an uphill battle in many respects. Most of their family and friends didn’t believe the two completely diverse personalities could succeed. But what the others couldn’t see or possibly understand was how the two complemented each other. He providing spontaneity, and excitement, and a silliness in her life that she might not have had on her own, and she providing quietness, serenity, and unconditional love that wouldn’t be there otherwise for him. Opposites attracted a perfect match.

Four years of dating gave way to marriage in 1991. She worked in the healthcare field, while he pursued his music and self-employment endeavors. She supported him completely, and always encouraged him. And he loved her all the more for it. Like most young couples, they had little money. They dreamed of living at the beach someday. But all they really wanted to do was hang out with each other. And they did that a lot. They still do.

But things weren’t simple, and they certainly weren’t easy. Her health has always been precarious at best, and life-threatening at worst. Non-working sinuses sent her back and forth to the doctors and the operating tables, and continue to cause problems to this day. The really rough stuff was still to come.

Five years of marriage saw their first child arrive. The second two years later. The former, a beautiful baby boy, put her in pre-term labor and 10 weeks of bed rest, and arrived a full month early. The latter, another beautiful baby boy, put her in the hospital mid-term as he arrived 11 weeks premature. And it was here that he began to see just how strong and courageous she really was.

And she was a world class mother. A real pro! Quite frankly, the best he’s ever seen. She has the pure, ingrained skills that most mothers envy, but not all have. Watching her with his boys melted his heart. She gave up working to stay home with the boys. And she joyfully handled the bulk of the day-to-day work of raising two boys, while he worked to provide for the family. And when she’d fall ill, he’d take care of her. But she was always better at taking care of him and the children.

Five years of marriage turned into 10. Through each chapter, and every hardship, he fell further in love with her. They still dreamed of living at the beach someday. Money stayed tight, but they managed to earn enough to pay the bills (mostly!) and create memories with the family. Going to Reds games was the favorite past time, and they went to a game every time they could save up the few extra bucks to do so. They’re so glad they did. And so are the boys. With every game, every new adventure, and every new memory, he fell in love even more.

It was the year between their 10th and 11th anniversary that changed their lives forever. In the previous few years, she’d had some serious health setbacks. More sinus surgeries, a battle with a nasty little fungus that attacked as a result of some of the meds she’d taken for her sinuses, and a hysterectomy brought on by complications (and negligence) from the second pregnancy.

But 2002 was the year of the brain tumor.

Fifteen hours of surgery, and six weeks later, 11 more. Massive complications resulted in 3 spinal fluid leaks, and 3 more surgeries. The whole ordeal left her with deafness in one ear, and half a smile. But he thinks its the biggest, most glorious half smile on earth. And still brighter than most others.

He loved her ever more. But he learned as he never had before that she was the strongest, toughest person he’d likely ever know. She powered through things that would have broken normal people. She stood up to pain that would have leveled most anyone else. And through it all, she made sure the children were covered, made every practice and activity, and got all their homework done. Amazing.

She survived, and they celebrated with a trip to Disney World, thanks to her parents. Vacationing near an ocean, in the warmer climates, would become more regular. She felt better near the ocean. And they dreamed of living there even more.

Ten years became 15. Self-employment had given way to an everyday job. He still played music, and she still supported it. They made a little headway in the world, and still spent all their time together as a family. As 15 years turned into 20, their love continued to grow even more. He became his own boss once again, and with her continued support and encouragement, he was able to grow the business into the most prosperous years of their marriage.

The boys were growing up. And he was becoming more and more clingy. The older he got, the more he just wanted to be with her. He didn’t realize it all those years ago, but from the moment he first saw the shy girl, the rest of his life would be consumed with being with her. They began spending twice a year at the ocean. The salt air helped her headaches and cleared her sinuses. And he loved when he could see her feel good.

The boys graduated high school and left town to pursue their own lives and dreams. But there was sadness too. They lost two good friends, and another family member. Very suddenly, and very sadly, and far too young. And as God blessed his business and their marriage, the dream of living at the ocean became much more. It became a quest.

As 20 years came and went, they put the wheels in motion. But the wheels got stuck one night when a flood visited their home and took away well over half their possessions. But it couldn’t take away their dream, and couldn’t slow down their love as it grew for each other through every hardship. They’d long since learned that nothing could stop them. Certainly not three feet of water.

Twenty-five years arrived. Their children threw them a party, and their friends and family gathered to celebrate with them. Many who’d never thought it would work over 25 years earlier. And they were happy to be there, and happy to share it with the people they love.

And now the dream is coming true. In a couple weeks, they’re moving to the beach. In a brand new home they never could have imagined when they were kids just learning what love was really all about. They’re older now, and their bodies a little more wrinkled and broken down. But not so old and broken down that they can’t enjoy holding hands on the beach. He’ll still work, and she’ll still take care of him and their home, and still encourage his endeavors. And she’ll still love him in that innocent, quiet, unconditional way she always has.

And she’ll still take his breath away every time she’s near him.

And for maybe the first time in her whole life, she’ll get to wake up every morning in a place where she doesn’t feel sick all the time. A place where her head doesn’t hurt every day. In a home she’s always dreamed of, with the man she’s loved for 30 years.

For him, he’ll be happy to see her feel better, to be sure. But mostly, he’ll just be glad to wake up next to her every day. Doesn’t matter where it is.

That’s all I’ve ever wanted.