Paul is Leaving Me

Just after our 36th anniversary, Paul is leaving me. For just over a week anyway.

Thirty-six years. I can hardly believe I've been alive that long, let-along married! How did this happen? Luck and good choices. Both of us were lucky to live at 230 Campus Avenue our junior years at Iowa State University. It was a brand new apartment complex built on the west side of campus. My roomies, Sally, Jane, Vicki and I were the first ones in unit #421.

230 Campus Avenue

Paul wasn't there that fall quarter. He was off in southwest Iowa tagging geese at Forney Lake in Fremont County. His cute roommates lived in #209. We met them through our friends who also lived in the 200's. Eventually, Paul came back to visit and I met him at an FAC (Friday Afternoon Club) at the storied Ames restaurant, Aunt Maudes. It wasn't love at first sight.

During the spring of our junior year, Paul was determined to put together a co-ed softball team. He must have heard what excellent athletes my roomies (not Vicki :>)) and I were. I also snagged Jennifer Deter. He asked his buddies and between us, we had a kick-ass team! Before I knew it, I went on an actual date with the coach, one Paul Goldsmith.

That summer, my roomies and I lived in Ames and did odd jobs for the university. Important stuff like paint the broomball rink boards. I worked for the rec department and counted the number of people in the gym - walking a route between two buildings. It was a pretty good gig.

College Paul

At night, Vicki and I spent time watching a men's slow pitch softball team sponsored by Minski's Pizza. Paul and Vic's honey Fred played on the team. It was a great time, drinking beer and cheering for our fellas. One weekend, they played in Harlan, so we visited my Atlantic hometown. My parents got to meet "Goldy" as everyone called him. Some people still call him that.

Run Paul

Still - I thought it was a summer fling. He likely wasn't "the guy". Was he? Everyone has this dream picture of who they'll marry. I thought my guy would be a big dark-haired dude. Not this wiry blond farm boy. Still, we did have fun and both liked sports.

When I graduated in the spring of 1980 and moved to Sioux Falls, he still had some school to finish up. I wasn't sure what would happen. He came to visit me. We wrote letters and talked on the phone (expensive long distance calls). That was when we really got to know each other - without all the background noise of college life. We fell in love in slow motion and became best friends. It hasn't all been easy - but there is nobody else I want by my side.

Now I've been married to my best friend longer than I've been alive...okay, not quite that long. I can't imagine life without him. So when he leaves this week to go hunting in Colorado, he'd better not croak! I need the guy. Happy Anniversary 8/28/82.