HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY LOVELY WIFE, PHYLLIS!!

Today millions of people celebrate Valentine's Day. In our house we also celebrate our anniversary and today is our 24th wedding anniversary. I met Phyllis around two weeks after she was born, it's true. I was only 5 at the time but I was there at her Christening. Our parents were great friends. Her dad was my father's best man and as families, we spent many days together. I like to tell people that on that day I looked at her in her crib, I said, "I'm going to be in there with you one day". It took over 30 years but I kept my word.

I was living in Arizona and Phyllis wrote me a letter saying that she had spoken to my parents and had learned that my marriage had ended and wanted to let me know she was sorry to hear it. (To this day I don't believe she was that sorry lol) We spoke on the phone that night and for every day after for a month. I then decided to come home to Massachusetts to visit. I was home two days and proposed at around 6PM and she quickly accepted, 8 hours later. I knew I had her after the first 5 hours, she was getting tired lol.  That was in August and we set the upcoming February 14th as the date. When we told people we were getting married, everyone said the right things but I'm pretty sure some people thought, "Sure this will last! They had not seen each other for over 12 years and had started speaking on the phone for a short while then became engaged and are getting married in 6 months. Yup this is a sure thing!!!!"

Well, the good news is, it was the surest thing out there. We have spent the last 24 years exploring much of this country and each other and learning to love the country and each other more and more.
I have been a very lucky man my entire life (although a lottery win has escaped me) but the luckiest day was 24 years ago today. When I finally said, "So why not, what do we have to loose?" and Phyllis answered, "You're right, lets get married" (or words to that effect), the best years of my life started.

Here are a few images of Phyllis doing what we both love to do, enjoying our love of nature, photography and each other.