Ten years married, twelve together.... and they passed in the blink of an eye. So a short trip down memory lane seemed appropriate!
See I have alot to be thankful for.... I met this guy at a gas station a long time ago, his truck was in the shop so he was driving his grandma's pink caddy, 1970's era.... and was cooler than shit in his hat and boots, his date thought so too I'm sure, till he took her home. Then there was me.
This guy was not my usual type, he was the bad boy, the one that every momma on earth preaches about and me, I was the good girl. He ran with a group of guys he'd known his entire life, they were hell raisers too, always ready for a good fight, ready for a night of partying or hunting as long as they were together. Little did I know that I would quickly become the only girl in this hunting pack. We would see the inside of many establishments, some that I would have to be carried out of, literally hanging on someones back, but I was along for the ride. The feisty five and the lightweight.
I went to a pawn shop on my first real date (cause we're country folks ya'll), duck hunting all night in the wet cold on my second date and before long I was a permanent fixture, they would even wait till I got off work before heading out. But The Man and I had quickly become inseparable. He was hot and I was loving life. Enjoy it while it lasts had become my motto .... cause cowboys ride away.
They ride away right into the Navy. He enlisted one day a year and a half into our relationship and came home to tell me about it. He left several months later, but not before picking me up from work one day, driving me to my favorite park and kicking me out of his truck. Literally fuming I stomped my way south, intent on heading home and breaking everything he'd ever given me into tiny pieces when he tackled me from behind laughing and proposed .... memorable to say the least. So we got engaged and he left. It was four weeks before I started getting letters, even though I mailed at least two a day to him. But the mail came pouring in and we began to plan this crazy thing we call our life.
We got married after bootcamp, at Christmas in a small country church wedding. It was great, my reception was family and friends and guitars playing all night long. His grandmother gave me the sluttiest piece of naughty wear I have ever owned ..... it was the best. We honeymooned in the middle of nowhere snowed in with food and no tv. It was great.
The Navy had it's hold on us by this point and thank you God for that. We traveled, we moved and we existed by leaning on each other. That made us so strong, as I look back I see how so many families rely heavily on their families and we never had that option, we had each other as both of our tight knit families were so far from us.
The Man and I learned to be a unit. We were still hot too!
We then became parents a year later at Christmas. (Christmas is a busy time for us, are you getting that?) Princess came into this world with blonde shiney hair, a big ole voice and endless energy, nothing has changed. We loved the "being young parents" thing. We played with her like there was no tomorrow. The Man then began sharing the things that meant so much to us, we danced with her, we sang with her, we did outdoorsy things with her, we were a family.
Then four years later, at Christmas AGAIN, Duchess joined the royal ranks. A chunky monkey from the beginning, she was the "Wyatt Earp" of all babies. She rarely smiled at anyone not her parents, she hated strangers and hardly ever made a sound, just lots of serious little stares. We knew for sure she was plotting to take over the world, that plan is already in motion. Beware the little one ... life took off at warp speed ...
Yet through it all, I had my best friend and soulmate .... the one person on this earth that I can annoy the shit out of yet he still hugs me good night. Even when deployed I could count on a call or email to tuck me into bed .... even if he wasn't there to check the house when I heard a noise or to sit up all night with sick kids. He was, in a way.
So we kept moving and he kept serving. All through it, we worked, as a couple and a family. We overcame difference and we didn't kill each other, that counts alot.
For the man who takes time to do special things with our kids, like making and painting paper maeche planets, just because..... and loves me even though I can't spell and neither can my computer.......
The bad boy who has grown into the most responsible and amazing man I know......
Happy 12 years of being together babe, I'm determined to get many many more, I have plans to drive you nuts for years to come.....
