My husband and I will be married 35 years next month. We met at the local 7-11- I was working 3-11 shift there summer when college let out, and he was on night shift (same thing but he had grad, I was a frosh). He was a really nice chap and we struck up a nice friendship. We would talk after work, and take bike trips during the day when he was off, and really developed a good friendship. He was attentive, polite and a true gentleman. Shortly in the timeframe, we started dating (cautiously, more than not but it was serendipity I think) in late June. WHAM! He was just the man I knew I had to marry. By August we were engaged (on his birthday!), and early October married. I couldn't have wanted a better man to share my life with, we've had our bumps in the road but haven't we all. My father was very dismayed that I wanted to marry so young a month shy of 19. I was headstrong, I know- but like my Dad, I knew my mind. We eloped of a fashion! It took a good while for my Dad to be over it (oldest daughter and all- and I know I did disappoint him by marrying young and he grew in time to respect the man that married his eldest daughter) but my Mom was at our side always and God Bless Her for that. I have some simmering regrets not doing the marriage like my Dad wanted, but we did get married in his church- and after taking the "compatability" test the church offered then, the reverend said he had never seen two people suited so well to one another. Funny thing was, we applied for our license after the prep work, in our town, the clerk was a local busybody and knew who to call to alert them to our plans. Holy crap broke out then. In later time, DH actually developed a very good friendship with my Mom, she thought he was the best thing since sliced bread! After Dad passed away his friendship with her meant a lot to her, and to me too. Her life was not easy with my Dad, I think DH was a good confidante to her - and she really did love and support us both always. His family no doubt shared the same reservations intitally(and there were some confrontations there with my father, being us both from the same small town a only a few blocks from one another) but they were very supportive and loving, much more than we deserved- we even had to live there for a couple months til we got our first apartment and they welcomed us wholeheartedly. And when our sons were born they were there to help and always did help us when we asked, they knew not to impose theirselves on us and when we needed them, they ALWAYS were there. It was like the Waltons, no lie. And I loved it! It took awhile for my Dad to get over the marriage- 6 yrs- but they did come to visit prior their first grandson being born (we always laughed at folks thinking of our short courtship and quick marriage counting on their fingers- I hope they got tired after awhile!!), and for the second grandson too- and were there with bells on when the FIRST grandson was born and when the second was 3 months old, since he was born in winter. I treasure all the pictures of both families with our sons. First grandsons in BOTH families! I KNOW I was blessed with this man,and I KNOW we both were blessed with such wonderful families- and I thank God every day we are together, and try the best I can to continue the family thread with our sons. I can see how much they feel about family and the ties that do bind despite the miles. We are truly blessed and I am always, totally grateful.