It's a long story, but a really good story.  We have actually been journaling our story.........for fun, and to help us remember all the details, some of which are over 30 yrs old now!

We met in HS, Aviano Italy, while both of our dads were stationed there.  I'd been there for a year when Gary arrived.  I was in the 10th grade and he was a Senior.  My friend Celeste, actually met him first, at a dance.  As it happened one of the few I didn't attend and one of the few he DID.  She told me about this cute guy she met, the next Monday at school.  A day or two later I caught up with him walking to the post office, and introduced myself................................so it began.

Gary was SO shy.  So quiet.  But very sweet, and always a gentleman.  I remember hanging out with him just about everyday in the Band room, during lunch and after school sometimes.  I used to tickle him a lot, it was an excuse to get near him, and he didn't seem to mind.  I liked him, but it was hard to tell if he really liked me. 

I remember when he asked me to Prom.  I was dying for him to ask, and was starting to get worried that he wouldn't, but about a month before, he finally did.  He was really nervous, and I think he was really happy when I said yes.  I was more worried about getting my parents to agree.  It was an all night thing, with chaperones, of course.  But I was bearly 16, and wasn't sure if they would go along with it.  Mom was good with it, but of course, Dad being Dad, he had to torture me about it a while.  But they agreed.  We had a great time, but Gary was very shy, so we spent the whole night together, holding hands, but we only kissed once, at the very end of the date.  It made me weak in the knees, and I never forgot it, or him.

I moved to Germany that summer, and Gary went off to college in TN.  We wrote back and forth for a while, but lost touch before I finished HS.

In the summer of 1997, I came home to my mothers house, at the beginning of my 3rd divorce.  I had been living overseas and returned to discover something called "the Internet".  I spent a lot of time surfing, and came across a site called "classmates".  How cool.  Of course, being a military kid, this was extra great because I had lost touch with all of my HS friends and this would be a great way to find them again.  And I did.  I found Angela, Jackie, Anna, Frank, Tom and Gary.  I called them all.  Gary was married and living in FL.  He sounded happy and I was happy for him (and maybe a little disappointed that he was married).  We exchanged a few emails, and lost touch again.

Early in 2010, when I was very active on Facebook, I got a friend request, from Gary.  He found me on another friend's page.  I was so happy to hear from him, and friended him immediately.  We chatted often online.  He was still maried, but didn't talk about it.  I was in a relationship, but it wasn't going well.  Long story short, that summer my relationship ended, I moved home and started my own business, and my own life again.  Gary knew all about it, and was so supportive.  Not long after that, he told me that he had filed for a divorce, and finally opened up about his marriage, which was very unhappy.  Not long after that, I moved to FL, for work, and we were finally close enough to reconnect, and we did.  It was magic from day one.

Every day since then has been like a dream to me.  No worries, no drama.  Just this wonderful calm that is Gary.  Even on a "bad"day, it was always okay in the end, because he was there.  We really bonded, and grew together.  The more time passed, the more it was clear to both of us that not only were we cut from the same cloth in many ways, but that we belonged together.  It was effortless.  We think the same thoughts, have the same expectations, want the same things, express ourselves the same way.  It is like being young all over again.  I can't speak for Gary, but I've never been happier in my whole life.

We laugh all the time about all the "almost" connections we could have had and missed.  It wasn't time for us yet.  And so many conversations about what it would have been like if we had married 25 yrs ago.  But it wasn't our time yet.  Would we have loved each other as we do now, recognized this amazing gift we have been given, if we had stayed together then?  We'll never know, it wasn't our time yet.

But now, everyday is a delight.  There is nothing that isn't better with just one look at him.  I can't help but smile.  I didn't think I'd ever marry again.  I wasn't sure I wanted to.  Gary changed all that.  When I think of marrying him, I just can't stop smiling.

Finally...............................it's OUR time.