24 Years- How Tim Got married.

Wow- So I met this girl in 1986 November, and in 1988 she finally had enough.  She finally said, when are we getting married.  Because we decided on that step much earlier.  At that time in my life I didn't have money, just out of college, starting a new job as a co-manager at Browns Chicken and Pasta.  But darn it, she didn't want a 30 year engagement, lets get er done.  So we opened a credit card account at Marshall Fields, they gave us a $500 limit and bought a ring.  She's a trouper, she wore that ring you could barely see for years until we were able to upgrade with something else.

So how in the heck do you get married?  Lets call the Rolling Meadows Court House and ask.  It was easy as ordering a pizza.  They told me to get the licenses a few days before, and then asked me when I would like to come in.  My chance, I can decide on an easy date and never forget it.  12/12/1990.  So I hung up the phone and my mind was blown.  What the heck did I just do?  Because of a long story her parents were not told, but I did let my mom know. And that group swelled to about 15. 

So that morning prior to going, lets go to Portillos.  That's romance at its finest.  We arrived at the court house and I needed $12 for something.  Not sure what and I didn't have it.  Brother Steve to the rescue.  But Steve wasn't done there.  He as an attorney brought some whiskey with him and we did a shot of whiskey in the bathroom.  Attorneys don't get searched.   Not sure what would be next, we went into a court room and a gem of a person, Judge Cahill performed a memorable ceremony.  With that we were done. 

Back to my moms for some cake.  They set up a nice table for us.  And then we were off to another party?  You see it was my Grandma Carlson's Birthday.  It was her day, not ours.  So we waited until the end to announce everything,  and had some champagne. 

So I have been with this girl for over 29 years.  It has been one heck of a journey.  Her jobs ranged from picking up dog poop at Save-a-Pet to Tiffany and Company Sales.  I went from French fries at Browns Chicken, to doing financial work at Xerox.  Oh- the 20 years of doing taxes.......  We have traveled our share, which is a blessing.  I think I have been to Hawaii 5 different times. 

The true blessing in my life is to have met her, someone to share my life with.  The person who I am happy to see when she walks in the door.  The person who talked me off the edge when I lost all my composure while hiking in the woods at Mammoth Cave long after dark. Somehow she got us back to the car by the moonlight.  Deanna has met every person in my family, most have past on.  From Grandma Ebert who had enough of brother Ted, Jim, and myself, but walked hand in hand with Deanna.  To my Grandma Kitty who was receiving hospice care and when we came back from our ceremony, we woke her up to tell her, she smiled and said that's nice.  Grandma Kitty really liked Deanna and their mutual love of animals.  My dad scared her, she did eat her squash at the dinner table, that was a first.  To my mom who was there at her Student Art Show at WIU.  My mom was genuinely proud of her.  Me- not so much, but Deanna, yes.

I would love to think I will grow old with her, but sadly that is not going to happen.  And for that I feel really cheated.  But for me in Happy Land, look what I have, its what most people don't ever get to experience.  So I cant feel cheated, I have to feel lucky.  Lucky that I have met her, lucky that she stands by me, puts up with all my nonsense, and takes care of me.  Thank you Deanna.