On December 6, 1980 two young people headed for a stone chapel on the Darmouth College campus [View all]

Rollins Chapel. We were so young - 23 and 24 years old. I was a chemistry grad student, she a nurse at the campus hospital. We met at a party a year prior - a party neither of us wanted to attend and my friend (and it turns out, her friends) "made" us go. We were both on the rebound. At the party, she was the first person I saw when I went I approached the front door. I just knew.

A few of our friends were there, and a justice of the peace. We didn't have our parents or family because a church wedding would have led to a family civil war (which religion? which church? etc). While someone was tuning the chapel organ, we were pronounced man and wife. A few handfuls of rice were tossed at us - we headed to our tiny rental apartment for a toast with our friends. That was the start.

Now, two daughters and 7 dogs and 6 cats later, we are just as goofy, laugh just as much - share a similar love of music, movies, books, hiking and kayaking, and gardening. 43 years. That is quite a number to grasp. We are having a typical day - I am answering some garden emails and will send out some seeds - she is quilting and will soon go to yoga. Tonight we will have a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Our life hasn't been anything extraordinary - but our life together has been nothing but extraordinary. I suppose when people look at us, they see two people in their late 60s. When we look at each other, we see all of the years we've shared - including those early 20 year olds!

I am one lucky fellow!