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.

  

Celebrating 35 Years,

This guy

Who could have known? I was such a young thing when I got married. Now here I am, nearly 60 - comfortable, spending time with this fella that worked his way into my life all those years ago. I'm the lucky one. We've woven our lives together so tightly. I can't imagine what life would be like without him.

I've always been one to bristle when people would suggest someones' husband was "their better half". How sexist, I'd think. Each woman should be her own person. Now here I am, not half a person, but interdependent with this dude I've been spending time with for the past 35 years.

These people....heart. 

We spent our anniversary weekend at LOTO (Lake of the Ozarks) with good friends McKims, Higgins, and McFees. It was Shootout Weekend - so the "Go Fast Boats" were going fast all weekend. Capn' Don motored the pontoon into prime race viewing position and we watched the races while floating on noodles. Our friends' lake homes have evolved from works-in-progress to places worthy of Chip and Joanna. Besides hanging out with our friends, my favorite part of the weekend was sitting on the deck in the morning, drinking coffee. That view!

This view

My friend Sandy (a friend from my hometown Atlantic) arranged for us to participate in the annual Meals From the Heartland event at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday. Our Team Name is ForTH - For The Hungry. Perfect. We worked together with another group (Waukee cheerleaders in the next pod) to package 40 boxes of meals. Woohoo. That day over 1 million meals were packaged to be shipped anywhere in the world.

This team

After two hours standing on concrete, a stop at Malo for Mexican Food and a beer was in order. It was nice to get to know our teammates a bit better. Sandy and Steve's daughter Lauren and her husband Adam are super nice. And the others are too. Fun night!

This group of Paul's co-workers - toasting a friend battling cancer

Next up - we were ready for some football! Our beloved Cyclones vs. the UNI Panthers - always a worthy first game opponent. Game time, 7 p.m. It was a perfect day - we enjoyed it immensely, especially the big W this year. Our friends Kevin and Kari are again providing a trailer/tent rig in D2 for tailgating. Perfect for our little group. We grilled brats and hoisted a couple beers. It was fun to see our tailgating "neighbors" and to walk the parking lot, visiting other groups.

This VARSITY marching band

At game time, we walked in with the band. That's living vicariously! The pregame was super. Oh, how I love the pageantry. Soon the moon was shining over the stadium and after a slow start, our team was heading to a victory.

This game day experience

Post game, we allowed the parking lot traffic jam to clear out and took town the tents. Kari and Keven have the real work today - reorganizing that jumble of a trailer. OCD Kevin will need to put it all in order! Then we had a beer by the fire pit telling, telling stories and talking football. Not much overconfidence about next week's game against in-state rivals, the Hawkeyes. But today, we're 1-0!

This hero - Jack Trice 

Happy Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been a year since these marvelous young people tied the knot. Jud and Kara's wedding day was a beautiful event. What's been even better has been watching these two make their lives together in the past year. The two have been together since college. Marriage looks good on them!

Today was a beautiful day, just like we were blessed with one year ago. I couldn't help but think about what we were doing one year ago - loved ones were assembled, dressed up in our pretty clothes, hearing the vows, celebrating and finally dining, dancing and drinking. Just a bit.

The wedding was so pretty, they have used pics from the event in their brochure! #fairytalewedding. 

Jud and Kara spent the day hiking in the park where Jud proposed. They took a picnic and even had some wedding cake - fresh from the bakery (not frozen like we used to do). They exchanged paper gifts. Next month they are going on a trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland. In addition to the usual site-seeing, Jud is fired up to see his fave soccer team in action. Compromise in action! See, this relationship is made to last. 

One of the other memorable things about Jud and Kara's wedding was what happened the day after. Amy's boyfriend Corey Park asked Paul and me if he could marry our daughter. Gulp! It was really sweet and of course, we said yes. We had to wait for him to pop to Q to her in May. 

Now here we are, a year later, counting down to their wedding day in August. Next year I look forward to seeing that comfortable "married" look on them too. 

Just a couple days...

Is it just Tuesday?
Tonight was our Anniversary date at Centro. Cool place!

Centro

We exchanged cards but didn't have any big gifts for each other...at this age we pretty much get what we want...if we can afford it anyway. So he is getting a big elk hunting trip in September and I received a beautiful ring that I designed myself. It was made from my engagement ring, the anniversary ring Paul gave me for my 13th year (lucky) and two small diamonds from my Mom's engagement ring. I took all those rings to my sis Cindo's jeweler, Dennis, in Edwards, Colorado.

Dennis gave me credit for the gold (he teased me that midwest gold is cheap because we're thrifty...). I described what I had in mind for a ring made up from the stones. When it was done, he sent it to Paul. One day, shortly after that - in June - Paul found me all sweaty on the deck after a walk, and he proposed again. It was very touching when he gave me the ring - my sweetheart. His first proposal may not have been too romantic, but that one meant a great deal to me.

 We enjoyed our meal at Centro! We both started with Cosmo martinis and toasted our 30 years.

Paul had steak while I tried the parmeson crusted halibut - we both got garlic mashed potatoes with our meals, plus I had asparagus. Very good! I have to say Alba is still my fave fancy place though. Maybe I was just hungrier that night...

We did a little shopping in WDM, then all too soon it was time for Paul to head back to Creston. I'll be home in 2 days and we're both excited to see our children this weekend. Amy flies in Friday evening and Jud and Kara are driving up. We'll all attend the ISU game Saturday. Go Clones! Feeling very blessed on our 30th Anniversary.

Monday night I made my first visit to the new Whole Foods store on University in WDM. It looks to be a pretty cool store! Lots of locally grown foods, with organic selections and stuff you can't get elsewhere. It seems much bigger than Trader Joe's but is probably a bit larger.

Outside front door

It wasn't very busy when I was there

Where old cigarette machines go - they become art o mat

No crappy recycling inside the beautiful store - this machine is outside the entrance