This is the series of Facebook Postings that I started on April 20, 2010 as an Anniversary Card to my Wife for our 32nd Anniversary. Each night I posted the next day’s posting.
It was a Thursday, a little more than a week away from a big day for me. I sat in my car pondering what I had already fully decided was a good move. Is it? Should I back out and leave town? The internal discussion lasted what seemed like forever, but the guy in the car behind me had only honked his horn once or twice. I knew that I was on a new and exciting path and that it would turn into a life long journey that I could not pass up. Thank you God for bringing this fantastic journey to me.
It was a Friday evening. A lot was going on, getting ready for a wedding. I had no idea that there would be so much to do. My role was relatively simple. I was the Groom. If I closed my eyes I could see the hustle and bustle of dozens of people doing what it takes to organize and prepare for a wedding. In my mind, I just stood in the middle of it all as everyone ran back and forth past me. Wow, look at all of these people working to put on a celebration for me and my fiancé. This is going to be a great party. Celebrating the marriage of a beautiful woman to a very, very lucky boy!
It was a Saturday. The sky was a beautiful blue with just a few puffy white clouds floating around. I drove to my fiancés house to pick her up so that we could run a few more errands for the wedding we were going to have. She came running down the stairs out of the house and as if walking on air she bounced over to my little green car. I just stared out the window at her wondering, Why me? This is a beautiful woman that I am getting ready to marry. I knew that I was head over heels in love with her and I could tell that she was equally in love with me. She got in the car, reached over toward me and pulled me into the hug that I have gotten so used to over the past 32 years. The kind of hug that says, “I love you” I am so lucky – I still get this hug and look forward to it every day.
It was a Sunday. Again, another beautiful day. The boys were playing a game today in the local softball league I was in. I looked at my watch a dozen times trying to pace myself thru the next few innings. Maybe we would be done in a few hours and I could head over to my fiancés house for dinner. It seemed like the pitcher was throwing the slowest pitches ever and each time a player ran around the bases it looked like a slow motion movie scene. I really liked playing softball with the boys, but I really wanted this game to be over NOW! I wanted to see my beautiful fiancé and to play rummy royal and drink Tickle Pink with her on the floor of her family room. Come on guys, strike outs – we need more strike outs. I have a beautiful woman waiting for me!!!
It was Monday, the week of my wedding and I was heading to work. I loved my job back then. Lots to do and always something different. Tonight I had dinner plans. I was going to drive downtown and pick up the woman of my dreams and take her out to a fantastic dinner. But, I knew that I could not afford a big fancy restaurant. No worries – Just sitting in a McDonalds with a Big Mac, Fries and Coke was all we needed. We would sit there eating our burger and fries while talking and laughing. Having my fiancé with me, we could turn any place into a fantastic dining experience. I love looking into her eyes and listening to her voice as I slobbered all over my food. I am the luckiest man in the world! This woman is going to marry me. Thank you God!
It was a Tuesday – I am still working and wondering how the weekend events would turn out. I’m not sure I was really doing my job because I seemed to be day dreaming a lot. I was picturing a beautiful sexy white wedding dress moving down the aisle toward me and the veil over her face sort of hiding just a little longer. I could picture everyone in the church looking at me as my mouth hung open staring at my bride to be. This day dreaming seemed to go on forever. I could hear my fellow employees talking to me, but I had to keep saying, “What – I did not hear you” over and over again. I had to tell myself “Stop day dreaming Teddy – Get back to work” It was hard to do – I just kept seeing my fiancé in my mind and hearing myself say – Man, I love this girl!
Wednesday, we call this Hump day because we are now heading down the hill toward the weekend. Since the upcoming Saturday will be the day I marry my lovely fiancé, it’s an even bigger hill for me. I’m still working, if you can call it that, but I am also thinking about what kind of husband I will become. Even at the young age of 19 I truly believed in the mantra I have today – “You have to be responsible, but you do not need to be mature” This is the boy in me that has never, and quite frankly will never get away. Will my new wife be able to handle this? I hope so. Please God, let her be able to handle this immature little boy who has no desire to ever grow up. Flash forward 32 years – Thank you God for giving this loving woman the ability to handle the childishness that I have never and still will never give up. Flash backwards 32 years again. She can handle it, I know she can. I love this woman!
It’s Thursday and my fiancé is off work now. She is with her mother and sisters doing the stuff that women do before a wedding. I am still working, barely. I really understand cruise control work now. I’m doing the work, but it is not recording in my mind. I spent almost 3 hours on this morning just thinking about the change that was about to occur in my life. I could feel it in my bones while visualizing it in my mind. The happiness, love and enjoyment of having a women as sexy and loving as my fiancé turned wife. The many great goals we have planned to achieve together. Will we be able to have 4 beautiful babies before we turn 30? Will we get our Yacht built before we turn 35? Will we be happy and in constant state of love while working hard at a new life? I believed we could and for this belief I had no fear of making this leap. Flash forward 32 years. Yes we have 4 beautiful baby girls who have grown to be 4 beautiful women. Yes we built our Yacht successfully & YES we are happy together and in a Constant State of LOVE with each other!
It’s Friday and I am not working today. I have a task list from my fiancé and mother in law that I have to work on. Lots of stuff that only a Groom can handle. OK, maybe it’s lot of stuff that a Groom can possibly handle. I’m riding around town whistling and singing in my car. I’m in LOVE and getting MARRIED to the Sexiest, Loving and fun woman a man can ask for! I love this woman’s voice, as well as everything else about her. Her smile, the way she giggles, the smell of her hair. There is a lot more about my fiancé that I love but I best keep some things between us. Flash forward 32 years. Man, I am one lucky old guy! I have the Sexiest Loving and Fun women a man can ask for! Flash back 32 years again – I can’t wait until tomorrow when I can call my fiancé my wife! I love this women!
It has been a long week and it is now Saturday April 29, 1978. Today is where I step onto the highway of a new world. On this morning I have no time to dawdle, I have to get up and get going because today I am getting married. Fast forward a few hours – Here I am standing at the altar. My beautiful wife, Rebecca Lee (Hoewing) Burriss is at my side. Wow, what a feeling. I am now a husband. What will all of this mean? Fast forward 32 years. It means a lot more than I could ever imagine. It means that thru all of the hard work and fabulous times of the past 32 years my life partner has been by my side and thru it all there has been 1 constant. I have been in love with Rebecca and we shared our love with our children and family. It has been this love and our united belief that God will get us thru any chaos that comes our way that has made the past 32 years so rewarding. Rebecca – I LOVE YOU because you have been my rock, my chair and the light thru the times of darkness. I LOVE YOU because you have been my dance partner, lover and the straight guy in my comedy acts. I LOVE YOU because you have passed on your smile and your love to our daughters. I LOVE YOU because you are YOU!
Teddy Burriss 