ConjoINEd at the heart POW (VAL-ENT-INE)

Thirty-five years ago fate presented me a different adventure than previously planned.

I was hell bent on not getting married or having kids, prevalent of a seventies woman.  I entered the workforce in the tenth grade.  Confident I wasn't going to be valedictorian, I chose a career over schooling after graduating high school.  Evaluating my life at the ripe old age of seventeen, I would not be entrapped nor entertain the ideals of what was the norm or expected of me.  My defined goals were to venture into the world, travel, and experiment with my artistic talents.  I was determined and gained confidence quickly.  I knew my potential and my enthusiasm grew when my yearly evaluation merited a large salary increase.  That validated my eminent decision and cemented my goals.  Six months later things changed.

**********

His linen shirt complimented his eyes.  I'd always appreciated his gentleness along with his craziness and valued our friendship.  We socialized within the same group.  His ex-girlfriend was a best friend of mine.  Excited to see old friends, I declined several New Year's invitations and enthusiastically accepted his.  I spent a few hours in front of the mirror, demanding perfection.  Dressed to the nines, I joined my friends, confident my excessive primping apparently paid off.  Upon my arrival he acknowledged his approval, saving every dance for me.    

We formed an attachment right away.  I became the center of his world, entrusting him with my heart.  I was not as ambivalent to a relationship as I'd once thought.  I reevaluated the attention given to my career.  He was filling an emptiness I evidently ignored before.  Within weeks we made a commitment to each other.  Others saw that as hastiness.  We were destined to be together.

Coincidentally, we didn't concentrate on the negativity and were complacent with the adventures we were to entail.  We marked our seventh month as a couple by saying "I do".  Our love was intoxicating. 

Abstinence was an invaluable promise.  Although inexperienced, our honeymoon holds a sentimental endearment you can only experience once in a lifetime.  He was a perfect gentleman whose chivalry is outrivaled by none. 

Our daughters slept in a bassinet next to our bed.  We loved being young parents, both only twenty when our first arrived.  "We'll grow up with them," we'd say.  "We'll be young enough to enjoy life when they leave the nest," we'd add. 

We're both argumentative and went through trying times.  I almost sent him packing and he inevitably wanted to oblige my requests.  We played mental games, had plenty of belligerent arguments, and pined over inessential disagreements.  Much to our amusement and agreement, he accepted my bitchiness and I learned to live with his crabbiness. 

We engineered our relationship into one of today's finest.  To everyone's amazement, we made it.  This marriage wasn't an accident.  Fate intervened and love made us survivalists in a world where it's too easy to call it quits. 

We're intent on celebrating our ninetieth anniversary, confined to wheelchairs, in a local convalescent home.  Content on knowing we're eternally conjoined at the heart.

I love this man.