Four score and seven years ago . . .
ok, lose the four scores, but keep the seven years . . . I made the greatest decision of my life. A few months earlier, I had made the worst--to get married in July in Mesa. But I certainly chose the right woman, and I've been eternally grateful ever since.
For those that need reminding, Jenny and I met in a Chinese class in college. When Jennifer walked into class that first day, I told her that the teacher assigned seats, and that her seat was right next to mine (or something like that). We first became friends. I was impressed with her beauty; she was impressed with my repertoire of 70's-era dance moves.
As the relationship developed, it was easy to see that Jennifer was unique. I was impressed because she was a surprisingly deep thinker (when you're in college, it's easy to get accustomed to superficial conversations, and thus think that everyone is superficial). She was also exceptionally considerate and had a huge heart (I'll resist this opportunity at self-depreciating humor). But most of all, Jenny possessed what seemed to me at the time the perfect mothering skill set.
So I decided to ask her to marry me. It was a beautiful spring day, and we had a picnic lunch on a deck sitting in the middle of a crisp mountain river. After eating, I dug into my backpack as if to bring out more food, but instead I retrieved a small black velvet box. I got down on one knee and gave a speech to rival any of Mr. Shakespeare's. And then I popped the question.
After some very tense seconds that felt more like hours, she made some kind of mumbling sound. I was honestly confused. So I followed up with a "was that a yes?" (Boy, I'm optimistic.) She confirmed that her answer was indeed in the affirmative. Great!
We decided to get married in August. During the early stages of planning the wedding, however, Jenny's boss in China (she lived there before we got married) called her and asked if she would go back for another semester. She kindly declined, and informed him that she was getting married in August. He countered with an offer to send us both to China if we would get married in July so that we could get there by the start of the semester. I needed little convincing. We bumped up our marriage to July.
And so about a month later, Jenny and I set off for China--the land, language, and culture that brought us to the same class a year earlier. It had been an interesting year, and one that culminated in the most important event of my life. But each successive year has not only reaffirmed my initial assessment that Jennifer was intelligent, compassionate, and motherly, but has introduced to me additional characteristics of hers that I had no way of knowing would be so beneficial.
I look forward to the next 7 years, and to the eternities beyond that. I couldn't have selected a better companion to travel them with.
Jennifer, Happy Anniversary!
