Thirty three years ago on Valentine's Day Steve and I talked about marriage. A few excerpts from my book: Look up, move forward. my journey of losing vision and finding resilience: On Valentine's Day I told Steve I didn't want to date other people. He surprised me by responding, "Does this mean I can't date anyone else?" My heart sank and I looked at him in shock, hoping he was joking, but he held out. "Well, I'll have to think about it," he said. I wanted to hide. He smiled slyly as he took my hand. "Yeah, I think I can agree to that." He admitted that he actually hadn't been dating anyone else for months. He'd already cleared his schedule and had been patiently waiting for me to clear mine. (Love his sense of humor)
Steve scheduled a visit to the Merrill Library to request my dad's permission for my hand in marriage. In this conversation, the two men I admire and respect the most discussed how they would be there for me in the coming year. My dad told Steve that he and my mom would always be there to support me, and us, in the journey ahead. (Love his respect for my parents.)
Steve had timed my tour so that after a moment near the temple, we could drive off into the sunset, and that's exactly what we did. (Love his romantic side :).
As Steve and I pulled up to the Capitol building just after dark, the city lights twinkled below us. He wanted to start our life together the same way his parents had begun theirs, and his admiration and respect for them made me love him even more. We climbed the stone steps and he led me to the third pillar. He lifted me onto the huge stone base and took my hand. "Will you marry me?" There was only one thing for me to say, "I'd love to." (Love his love and respect for his family, tradition, and always putting me on a pedestal :).
He calmly listened every time, and then informed me, again that he loved me and that we'd be there for each other, no matter what our future held. "I'm the luckiest guy to be marrying you," he'd say. (Love his friendship, support, and belief in me.)
When my fears returned, I borrowed Steve's courage again and again until I gained my own.
As I prepared for our wedding, I didn't think much about details like my dress and flowers and decorations. My biggest concern was how I would navigate the receiving line. Not only would I be greeting my friends and family, but Steve's friends and family, too. I wanted very much to do that with confidence and ease. When I shared this worry with Steve, we came up with a plan. We would tap my elbow when someone had their hand extended, and I would know to extend my hand, too. Simple! Though it was a minor problem we solved in a matter of moments, it was the first of many, many systems and workabouts that we have developed over the years. (Love our teamwork and creativity.)
That evening each time Steve tapped my elbow served as a sweet reminder that he was on my team, for always.
I love when someone tells me this book is a love story.
#LoveStory #Rpjourney #lookupmoveforward
No comments:
Post a Comment