Sixteen years ago today I married my best friend and wife Lyn.

Wow!  I really cannot believe I have been so lucky to of survived this long and I can honestly say have only begun in the journey of life with her.

It was a Friday evening in July of 1993 and I was at In Cahoots in Fullerton, California.  This was where me and my Marine buddies hung out every weekend night.  Each Friday night, we would pull on our tight Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and whatever shirt we felt was appropriate.  That night I decided on a Goofy t-shirt.  Me and one of my buddies, Mike Brandt, made our way from the base to In Cahoots probably around 7:30 or so and sat in our normal spot on the raised area right by the DJ.  Somewhere around 9:00 we did our normal Friday and Saturday night show of dancing and motions to Confederate Railroad’s ‘Queen of Memphis’ (1) and making the normal fools of ourselves.

After we got done, I was drinking either water or beer and relaxing on the ledge when I noticed this blonde all alone under a picture.  I remember asking my buddy Mike if she was my type and I think he said something to without a doubt.  So I went to ask her to dance.  She said yes.  Normally when you two-step with someone for the first time, you do not talk the first time around the dance floor, but if you know Lyn, she is not one to follow the rules.  So, by half way around the dance floor, she was talking to me about something.  Now in the short version of this story, I say ‘And she hasn’t stopped talking since.’  But honestly, I have no remembrance of what we talked about that night besides her saying she liked my Goofy shirt and saw me when we were doing our performing thing.  I do remember a long kissing session leaning against my S-10 in the parking lot while Mike was napping inside.

I later find out that Lyn was supposed to meet some friends there and they never showed up.  Thank you to whomever those friends were.  But most of all thank you to God for bringing Lyn into my life that night.

I remember meeting her parents two days later and goin up to see her for her birthday while she was finishing up working after graduating from UC Davis.  We knew that weekend that we were going to get married.  We just didn’t let the rest of the world know (besides Lisa) until June 18, 1994.  See, my birthday is May 18^th and Lyn’s is July 18^th, so this seemed like a logical date to me.  I think that is the last time I have had a picnic on the beach.  I was a good boyand asked her father for permission and we stayed up after Lyn said yes to tellher mother.  Found out, that my now father-in-law is not a good secret keeper and told my mother-in-law and the surprise to her was not to be.  Oh well.

On September 16, 1995, in front of friends, family and God, Lyn and I were married.  16 years ago.  Wow!  Laguna   Hills Baptist Church was the location.  We chose it partially because it had a center aisle.  We ended up attending there for about two years.  I remember my brother-in-law having the wrong tux jacket and afterwards people reacting to how long the first kiss was.  The reception was held at a place called The Barn in Tustin, California.  Our wedding party entered the space to Disney’s ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’ (2) and Lyn I came in to Disney’s ‘Fantasmic’. (3)  We spent the next week in Walt Disney World and have survived with each other ever since.

There is no doubt in my mind that I am the luckiest man alive for finding, keeping, and marrying Lyn.  She is my best friend, the love of my life, and the mother of our son.  She is my rock, my support, and my perfect fit.  She likes my jokes, enjoys my company, and bandages my cuts.  We have bled together more than anyone but God will know and I don’t plan on losing her for the rest of my life.

I love you Lyn.  Happy 16^th Anniversary !!

Our Wedding Photo Pulled From My Wallet