My Bride and me a few years ago!

Way way back in 1991, back in the days of Prodigy and CompuServe, I was but a lowly key banger, pounding out job cost accounting software on my 286-12MHz PC over a 1MB network (see, there’s some geeky stuff for ya!). At the same time, at the same company, there was this real cutie working in HR. It didn’t take long for us to start going out and before you know it, its kind of a steady thing.

We were both going to school at night and in her Western Civ class, the instructor offered five extra points if you visited the replica of the Parthenon in Nashville. Being the conscientious student she was, we planned a quick trip up to Nashville one sunny November Saturday. Well, that’s what I planned… she had other plans!

I was quite irritated leaving the Parthenon. See, we had made the two’ish hour drive up there, then spent a grand total of (what felt like) about 10 minutes inside. And of course, because it’s in the south, there was a Civil War museum in the lobby… but no, didn’t get a chance to see that either!

So we’re back in the car thirty minutes after arriving and I’m mad and I say, “Well, ok… NOW what do you want to do?” Much to my surprise… and mood improving delight… she suggested we head over to Gatlinburg for the rest of the weekend. After finding out that there were appropriate supplies in the trunk, how could I resist.

The whole plan was working out perfectly for her, at least untill we started approaching Knoxville. See, Knoxville is the home of the University of Tennessee… and Gatlinburg is right outside Knoxville… and it was homecoming weekend for the UT… and there were no hotel rooms anywhere around, including Gatlinburg! Ok, so maybe that’s a little bit of an over-dramatic characterization because we did find a room, but its still fun 18 years later to remind her of that detail!

After we found the room is when she sprang the real surprise on me. This weekend wasn’t about extra credit, or even a get away weekend. She had gotten me to the mountains of Tennessee to marry me! Well… OK!

We wound up getting married in Sevierville, Tennessee… at the courthouse… by the court chaplin, who by the way, reminded me of Mr. Magoo. He asked us how formal we wanted the ceremony to be and neither of us cared, so he looked at her and said, “Do you?” She said, “I do.” Then he looked at me and said, “What about you?” I said, “Yeah, I do.” Then he said, “OK, you are.” And looked back down at the desk to sign the paperwork.

Its a fun story to tell and so far at least, one I don’t get tired of telling. All that happened 18 years ago today, and I can remember it all like it was yesterday. To be sure, we’ve had our challenges and big bumps in the road, but they are a part of our story just like the beginning is a part.

So thank you for hanging in there with me. This certainly isn’t the typical post for jtrigsby.com, but it is a pretty important one for me. Thanks for your continued support!

Thanks are also due our families, and kids for being a big, (usually) supportive part of what has gotten us here!

But most of all, thanks to my Bride, the one who’s put up with me through the last eighteen years and is still hanging around. I hope someday I can live up to the investment she’s made in me! I love ya honey, happy anniversary!

@jtrigsby

PS – I guess I’ve started rubbing off on her after 18 years… she’s starting her own blog over at CulinaryClique.com. Stop by over there and say hi!

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The sad thing is that we’ve all been duped into thinking that this is perfectly normal behavior. To pick out only one day to recognize the special people in our lives. Oh, and then there’s the uncomfortable squeeze these “holidays” put on those people who don’t have anything close to a good relationship with their respective honoree… what are they supposed to do?Its kinda like having the “birthday party” at work for the co-worker you really don’t get along with. Do you go? Do you sing Happy Birthday? All so Hallmark (or whomever) can sell more cards!

In reality, why aren’t we honoring those honorees every day? I mean, if they are worthy of being put up on a pedestal one day a year, does that mean they are not worthy the other 364 days of the year? And if that’s the case, why fake it one day a year?

Ok, so now that I’ve thoroughly blasted these made up days… I am going to take this opportunity to share with you folks just what I think about on Father’s Day. Just like a lot of guys my age, I’m both a son and a father and so my view of the day goes both ways, but today I’m gonna focus on my dad role.

I’ve got three of the greatest kids on the planet! Casey has finished up her second year at Texas Tech and is busy planning a wedding for this fall, uh yeah, HER wedding! Kevin is busy working two jobs and diggin it I suppose. And Carly, well she’s getting ready to start her second year of high school and that ever elusive quest for a driver’s license.

I love this picture of the kids because its one of the few that is just of the three of them and by some freak of nature, they all look happy in this one. You know how it goes… you can’t get three people (especially siblings) together for a picture and keep everybody happy till you get a good one… but somehow we managed in this one.

I think Father’s Day is a great opportunity to look back over the past year to see how well we did our job as dads. Instead of sitting around and taking advantage of the one day most dads can get by with doing just about anything (or nothing)… why not take stock of what you’ve done to build up and teach your kid, devote time to them doing what they want to do and building positive memories with them.

For me, this has been a tough job today. The past year hasn’t been the easiest for our family. With the moves, new jobs, no jobs, new schools, new friends… there’s just been a lot of life goin on in our family and frankly, I haven’t done much to make it easier for everyone else. In spite of all that, there has been one thing I’ve been able to depend on… the love and support of my family… especially my kids. Thanks guys!

Sorry if that was a little personal for you, but I wanted to throw out an example for the other dads that will get a chance to read this. No matter how old your kids are, you’re laying the groundwork today, and everyday, for the rest of your life with them. Remember, they’ll be picking out your retirement home! LOL…

All kidding aside, pour into your kids today. We’re not guaranteed our next breath and there are very few dads that have laid on their death beds wishing they could have spent more time at work. For most of us, our kids will only be home with us for a few years and it is in those years that we have the opportunity to enjoy life with them. That’s one of the things I’m thankful for on this Father’s Day and I hope you can be too. If not, take the opportunity today to make plans that will let you look back this time next year on the best year of you and your kid’s lives.

Happy Father’s Day dads!

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