My Man

I met Mark 15 years ago this fall.

We were both attending PSU at different campuses.... and there was a system called "PSU-VM" where all of the students logged on at all campuses could "chat" with each other (before AOL online). All of the student's names would be on a list who were on-line. I knew that I liked Italians... so I looked through the list for an "Italian" last name.... and saw Mark's name.... and it all began like that...

We chatted back and forth for a few weeks... then a friend of mine and a friend of his arranged for us four to all meet up at a PSU football game and meet..... It was cold and raining... but one of the best days of my life.... I looked like a drowned rat, but Mark was able to see past all of that and we instantly connected.

A few weeks later it was his birthday and I skipped accounting class to make him cupcakes and surprise him with them.

We had a romantic courtship. He wrote poems and sent cards. We had "Compu-dates" set up where we would agree to log on our computers at a certain time (2:30 aka "Chinese dentist time") and "chat" with each other over PSU-VM. At one compu-date, we began chatting and then a delivery person showed up at the computer lounge with a vase of flowers Mark had arranged to be brought to me during our "date"....

15 years later he's still doing thoughtful acts like that.. Just 3 months ago, he had a vase of the same flowers I had in our wedding delivered to me at my nurse's station to surprise me.

Once while we were engaged, he drove an hour just to come and hold me because he heard I had a migraine. Still today, he is sensitive to my needs and always tries to meet them...he wakes up with me at 5am just to make sure I have coffee, start my car and give me a kiss goodbye... Little Lance never fails to wake up and say good bye to me, too.... He is his father's son... thoughtful and loving. He will make someone a good husband, too.

It's been the steady support and the little daily things that mean so much to me. We've blended our lives into one... Someone once said that marriage was like two streams coming together and joining as one... It is a little rough and there is some turbulence in the beginning....expectedly so... But, then it blends beautifully....

We've survived in-law problems, and financial issues - I remember one period where I would have $30 budgeted for food for the week to feed all 6 of us..... Not easy... But we never turned on each other and fought about things like that... we just made a plan and forged ahead. We went through many medical problems together.... loved ones dying, children having surgeries and mental health issues.... all of it making us more united.

What will the next 15 years bring? I'm not sure, but as long as Mark and I go through it together, it will be better than going through it alone.

I gave Mark Penn State Football tickets for his birthday. So, in a couple weeks, we will again, go to Beaver Stadium. It will probably be cold and rainy...but I'm pretty sure it will also be one of the best days ever.

I love you, Mark. Happy Birthday!