The Nice Guy and the Knockout

(for my parents on their 35th Wedding Anniversary)

Sitting just eight feet from her desk
at The Emporia Gazette
he can’t help but notice her long, lovely legs.
Short skirts are in style in 1973, and she looks darn good in hers.

And she can’t help but notice his good looks
his shy easy smile
His co-workers love him, and he works so well with the kids on the paper route.

Somewhat of a novice to the dating scene,
he is nervous for their first rendezvous,
a double date with a couple from the circulation department—
dinner at the Olpe Chicken House and bowling at Bluestem Bowl.

A year of dating and then in March 1974 a proposal.
At his apartment, watching TV
he muses aloud, “I wonder what it would be like to be married.”
A smile.
A giddy laugh, “Well, why not?”
A trip to Alstaw Jewelry
where Curly Watson cheerfully shows them different settings and cuts.

The ring sized, he brings it to work
puts it on her finger in the break room.
Their co-workers plan a wedding shower for the sweethearts.

Four months later on the evening of July 16,
a wedding celebration at Sacred Heart Church
a reception at Forrens Restaurant.
Friends, family, co-workers, and swimmers attend.
The bride is radiant
the groom handsome and assured.

A honeymoon road trip across the western U.S.
the beginning of a summer tradition
repeated with children, with Grandma Fiddler, with Cousin Alice
with good family friends—sometimes with kids, sometimes without
a yellow Volkswagon, a gray Mazda, a maroon and silver Dodge Caravan, a green Mazda
singing along with Kids Praise, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Fifth Dimension
ogling The King’s house in Memphis, Tennessee
body surfing in Pensacola, Florida
“Oh shit!”-ing on the hills of San Francisco
bicycling in Minaqua, Wisconsin
gorging on lobster in Maine.

Three and a half decades of love and fidelity.
He’s been in love with her, and she’s been in love with him.

He says that he learned years ago that love is a choice, a decision
even for people who genuinely care about one another.
He believes in give and take, acceptance of the whole person
and that laughter is a good thing.

She believes in trying new things, having new experiences together
and maintaining a sense of humor.

For the next thirty-five years
they have similar hopes and goals
health, security, travel, and time with family.

And perhaps he’ll surprise her more often with kind, romantic gestures
and perhaps she’ll respond more often with loving, unsolicited foot massages.