What Does Lasting Love Look Like?

How do you get there from here?

It started with a blind date. One of my friends described this woman that was right for me. The first time he did that, I was in a long-term relationship. After three attempts, he stopped. Months later, he found out I was no longer in a relationship.

The day he found out I was entirely single, he started telling me about the same woman he’d pitched before. I finally told him to stop, or I would stop buying cars for my children from him. I had bought five over a year’s period. He said he would stop. It was as though he couldn’t stop himself. I was on my way out and standing one floor above him when he yelled, “Did I tell you she’s a redhead?”

With that news, I turned around and countered, “What time, on what day, and where do you want to go to dinner?”

During the first two weeks, we spent (most) of the time talking about the really important things in life. Many of the topics were new to her. I’d been divorced for more than four years after being married to my high school sweetheart for twenty-six years. Together, we created six children, twenty-two down to thirteen years of age. Boy, girl, boy, girl, boy and a girl.

We also raised my brother and youngest sister from ages twelve to fourteen. They were now thirty-two, and my sister was thirty.

She had never had or raised any children. She wanted to discuss home ownership. Lifestyle, and the type of car I’d be willing to drive. She worked for a large Cadillac dealership. I drove a foreign car. I agreed to switch.

She had worked for the same dealership through four different owners. I started, purchased, or took over companies in many industries. I was a serial entrepreneur. When we met, I’d had more than fifteen companies, many of them international.

As you can see, we had much to talk about and learn about each other before we could fully commit. We were each prepared to move on if we didn’t meet each other’s standards.

With the Q&A portion out of the way, we focused on having fun and traveled a bit. That took us to October 1st. We thought about getting married after the two weeks were up. Someone talked us out of it. So, on October 1st, 1994, we secretly married in Las Vegas. We were married before her parents in their home. My children were also there on October 25th, 1994.

Thirty years (Almost) later . . .

I’ve been married to two different women. Combined, I’ve been married for fifty-six years.

There are so many reasons why my marriage works. I’m more grateful each day for the beautiful woman whose picture you see above.

My wife confided in me during our Q&A time that her father had always referred to her as his little princess. When we married in her parents’ home, I leaned into a conversation with her folks and said, “Thank you for my Queen.”

I treat Margaret like she’s the most important person in my life. She is.

We still hug and kiss every night and give thanks for the time we spent together that day.

She’s always been my rock. My business day could have been the worst, but seeing my bride fills my heart with joy.

She’s my Queen, best friend, and confidant; she’s the mother OUR children can turn to. All six children see her in her as the bonus Mom. Our fifteen grandchildren, from twenty-eight down to eleven, and our six great-grandchildren see her as their Nana who can walk on water.

Love is the glue that binds everything we do. Without LOVE, small acts of kindness become something that needs to be done. With love, you know how you’ve done something will benefit another.

I feel so blessed to have Margaret as my best friend and the one person on earth I love more than any other. She IS the most important person I know.

The Dancing Elephant Press archives are filled with stories of love. Use this link to discover the archives and search for the topic of your choice. So many great stories, so little time.