18th Anniversary...

Tonight is the 18th anniversary of the most magical night of my life. Eighteen years ago today, (the 10th) I attended the Marine Corps Ball with the man I thought I would be spending the rest of my life with. Oh, how my world was just filled up with him!

I remember the dress, and the neighbor putting my hair up into that beautiful loose bun. I remember the looks Mel kept giving me that night; a mixture of pride and disapproval. And Tom's eyes bugging out of his head when I came down the stairs to wait for my date.

I can still remember the warmth of my date's arms as we danced to one song. lol Just one, after all, he was male and a Marine and everyone knows real men don't dance!

That night, I felt like Cinderella and he was my Prince Charming. Sometimes, I wish to be 18 again and living in that dream. But then, I have a new dream now that I wouldn't trade for anything.

That date of mine is my daughter's father. 18 years later, 20 years after we first met, we're still good friends. If you had asked me back then where I saw myself now, I would say in the arms of my love, with children that I adore, spending the rest of my life with him.

Today, I am in the arms of my love- just not the one I thought it would be. I have the children I adore, except the one we still pray to return every moment of every day. And I am still spending the rest of my life with that man from 18 years ago.

We have been through so much. We had to work extremely hard to maintain our friendship. There were times when I didn't think even that would be possible. Twenty years from now, I see myself, still with the man who has become one of my best friends, and with my love. We'll be watching our grandbabies grow up, cheering our children on, and enjoying our retirement.

Mark, I hope that today has brought you very fond memories of friendship, love, and brotherhood. Happy birthday to you and to the Marine Corps.