June, 1992I remember coming home from the wedding rehearsal for Tim and Rachel Rector. I was one of Rachel’s bride’s maids. I had been resistant to going because I didn’t have a date. He caught my eye, the good looking guy with the camera. I had met him once before when I went to Rachel’s apartment, but that had been a long time ago. His name was Dan. His family called him Danny. After seeing him there, going to the wedding without a date didn’t seem so bad.
The next day was the wedding and I made the trip up to Cedar Springs, MI to support my friend in her marriage. The wedding was nice and then it was time for the reception. It was during this time, that I met Dan and we talked the whole time. I liked him immediately, he knew how to have a conversation…a real conversation about things that really mattered.
I left for home feeling happy that I had gone. I was hoping that he would call me. And then I waited.
July 18, 1992
Well, we finally talked a month later. He asked me out to dinner at Jose Babuska’s. I told him I would meet him there. After being stood up one time too many, I had too much pride to allow that to happen again. Especially, since I was living at home. I didn’t want my parents to see me disappointed when he didn’t show up.
I drove by the restaurant. We were to meet at 6:00 p.m. I didn’t want to be early….that would look too desperate and I didn’t want to show up late so I aimed to be there at exactly 6 p.m. When I walked in the door he was there waiting for me. It felt good to see that he actually showed up. He suggested we order the Ribs. I had never had ribs before and tried to eat them neatly with a fork. It was hard to do, but I managed. We ended up staying until the place closed for the evening. He was so easy to talk to. I had never been one for small talk, and apparently he hadn’t either. I returned home feeling good about our date. I wanted to see him again.
October 29, 1992
We went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Pietro’s, a local Italian Restaurant. It was here on this night that Dan asked me to marry him. He had chosen a ring, unique like none other. I said yes, and he put the ring on my finger. He had told me that he had tried to find a card to tell me how he felt, he said he thought he found a way and pulled out the ring and asked me to be his wife. We had the booth at the back of the restaurant. It is “our” table.
Previously, we had gone to Mackinaw Island. It was cold there but we had so much fun. We spent the day walking around the whole Island. We had dinner at the Grand Stand. We didn’t eat at the Grand Hotel it was too fancy for us. The Grand Stand had been just the place. Candlelight dinner with the sounds of the piano in the background playing jazz and other easy to listen to music. We entertained the thought of getting married at the little Stone Church there. But decided to marry closer to home.

We spent time at Mackinaw Island

May 15, 1993
I married my best friend.
Tonight we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.

We went back to Pietro’s. We sat at “our” table. Dan called ahead and it was set up ready for us, complete with a white tablecloth, and yellow napkins. He had a dozen purple roses, two of which were yellow representing our two boys. We ordered our favorite Lasagna and had fun recalling those early days.
I am blessed. I am thankful for the past 20 years. They have gone by fast. We have grown as individuals and as a couple. We have learned from each other and from our kids things only marriage and parenting can teach.
He has been my friend, lover, listener and companion. I am thankful that he chose me and still chooses me.
Love you Daniel.
Hide and Seek 
