Six of The Best Years of My Life

Yesterday, October 6th, was our six year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has already been six years. In some ways, it seems as if we've been married for many more years. In other ways, it seems like just a couple of years ago that we went on our first date.

I'm sure most of you know how we met but if not, I'll fill you in. In May of 2000 I was working as a dispatcher for EPD and Cliff was a deputy on the traffic team at LCSO. One of my good friends from work, Crystal, was dating a deputy at LCSO, Dave. Between the two of them they decided that Cliff and I would make a good match. So one evening at a get-together, they asked Cliff if he would be interested in meeting someone Crystal worked with and going on a second date. Cliff said yes much to his own surprise. Looking back now, he says that it must have been God and he knew that maybe I would be the one even before meeting me just because he felt compelled to say, "yes." I was so eager to meet a great guy that I jumped at the chance to meet him even though I was scared to death of a blind date.

Dave & Crystal pretty much planned it. They picked me up at City Hall and we then met Cliff at BJ's restaurant. I can still remember him walking in, dark blue polo shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes and a good looking haircut. I sat next to Crystal, Cliff sat next to Dave. Cliff was a bit quiet, I think because he was nervous. I, on the other hand, tend to talk insanely fast when I get nervous and have no loss for words. Once we were done with dinner we left to go bowling (Cliff held the door for me - SCORE!) Dave rode with Cliff to the bowling alley and I rode with Crystal so I could tell her what I thought of Cliff, I imagine the boys were doing the same.

We went to the bowling alley behind Reed & Cross and bowled a few games. I remember one time sitting down next to Cliff when it wasn't either of our turns, I think I made him nervous by sitting so close. :0) Oh, by the way, he held the door open for me coming to and going from the bowling alley. (Again, SCORE!)

After bowling, Crystal took me to get my car and then we went to Shari's restaurant where we stayed until about 2 a.m. talking about everything, mostly work though. I was hooked, he was so handsome and I wanted to know more and more about him. When it came time to leave, Crystal and Dave rushed to their car and were gone before we could even hardly say anything. Guess this was their tactic so we would be forced to be alone. Cliff nervously asked for my phone number and I eagerly gave it to him. We said good-bye and went to our cars. I was all giddy and nervous, trying to find a good CD to blare on the way home to celebrate my first and hopefully last blind date. Once I picked the perfect CD, I looked in my rearview mirror to back out and realized that Cliff was in his truck, waiting to make sure I left the parking lot okay before he left. (Again, SCORE!) That was when I knew I wanted to marry him. No guy that I had ever dated waited to be sure I was safe, opened my doors or was such a gentleman. Diana and Don brought up a good man.

So obviously he called, we went on a second date (with Carl & Debi), a third (with SWAT guys) and finally a fourth that was just me and him. And the rest is history. I love this man.

These are just a couple of pictures from our date last night for our anniversary. We went to the movies and saw The Kingdom and then went to Lucky Noodle for dinner. We've done these things before but something was different last night, it was an amazing night. We waited for nearly an hour for our table but it didn't matter, we were like a young married couple again and it was incredible.