Took my sugar to tea this evening for our anniversary.

[John Schmidt]

It's our 21st anniversary today and she felt good enough to go out for dinner so I made some reservations at a favorite spot of ours. Earlier in the day it was questionable, but I think her determination to celebrate quietly won out. Still took a lot out of her, she crashed soon as we hit the door. It's the second time around for both of us and for me it's been 21 great years plus the nearly five we dated prior to that. It surprises many people that we just dated, but never lived together. Call us old fashioned. She told me three years ago when I was still in a coma, the hospital called and said they were going to try and close me and wanted her there. So Rita, her daughter, and my two daughters went to Fla. Hospital and waited. The dr. came in and told her it was successful and this time the only thing they were worried about was the possibility of pneumonia so they asked Rita if I smoked, and also told her they were concerned that my pulse and BP was quite low. I wasn't a smoker and when they told her what my vitals were she just laughed....said that's normal for him. That was the 5th day after my admission and was kept in a coma another couple days before starting to withdraw those drugs. On the 10th day, I suddenly became aware of a cool hand stroking my forehead and a familiar voice talking to me. My eyes popped open and Rita about jumped out of her chair, she had been talking with her mouth near my ear and it startled her. First thing she asked was "are you still my babe?" Since I still had tubes in my throat, all I could do was nod yes....then raised my eyebrow at her a couple times and winked at her. That told her I was back mentally, she told me tonight the fact that they were successful in closing me on our anniversary three yrs. ago was the best present she could have received. After five weeks I was released and that's when it got tough.

My 75th b'day was the following April, eight months away. I resolved to be at or beyond the physical strength I had at the gym the afternoon prior to my attack. I hit that goal in mid-March, three weeks before my b'day and it's been increasing ever since. Even with her afflictions and being so frail, Rita cared for me night and day both while in the hospital and in the months to follow. That also took a toll on her but there's never a complaint. As for my attention to her, it never wanes. I often help her in the shower, or help wash her hair at the sink. Sometimes I'll paint her nails, and lately will use a transport chair to push her through stores when she's too weak to use her walker. Like I said.....it's been 21 great years. Maybe it was the Blackfoot Tribal Judge that married us in Glacier Nat'l. Park in front of a waterfall, she used the Blackfoot ceremony which creates a very strong bond. It "just don't get any better than that."  

Thanks for letting me reminisce a bit.  

[Grumpy]

Congratulations to you and Rita. Glad she was able to get out for a while.  Your story reminds me when Anna and I met, we dated for 3 years, no sleeping together etc, I guess we were both brought up the same way. Married 51 years last May.   I sincerely wish you and Rita to have many more to celebrate.

[Flrider]

Thanks for sharing John.
Happy Anniversary to you both 

[FloridaValkRyder]

What a wonderful story John. Happy Anniversary to you both. You got the best end of this bargain in my opinion..

[OLDFRT]

Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary.

[Bronxboy]

Awesome story, u can't hide True Love  Happy Anniversary !!

[TJ]

Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary to 2 GREAT People.....

[BCoy]

Happy Anniversary!  I enjoy reading your posts when you take a drive down memory lane, you guys have a special relationship. Congrats. 

[DD]

Happy Anniversary

[flsix]

Congratulations to you and Rita. So good that the two of you were able to get out for your 21st. anniversary.
Thanks for sharing a little of it with us.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Congratulations  And Happy Anniversary To The Both Of You !

[sixlow]

You two sure have been thru a lot in 21 yrs. and share a strong bond. Thanks for sharing.

[John Schmidt]

You two sure have been thru a lot in 21 yrs. and share a strong bond. Thanks for sharing.

The first 10-12 yrs. were trouble free, and we traveled a lot right here in the U.S.  The only states we didn't visit are the three on the west coast, guess we didn't have time.    Made at least six trips out west as far as Utah/Nevada and pretty much to the north/south borders. Covered the east coast equally as well, going to New England four years in a row to see the Fall foliage in October. And, during various holidays, InZanes, etc., we hit pretty much everywhere in the midwest. Some of the trips were on our '92 Wing pulling a trailer, some by air/rental car, some simply our own car. We made at least three trips up into Canada together, all fly 'n drive. One place that really astounded us was the Bay of Fundy where the tides raise just under 50' in very short order. In low tide we went down and walked on the ocean floor, boats in a harbor next to our motel room were sitting on the sand for about six hours. In Vermont, we stayed in some secluded B&B's next to lakes or small creeks. The only noise was the birds, or water rushing over the rocks. The only thing Rita had trouble with was flying, she's not only a white knuckle passenger but her whole family has an inner ear problem and suffers from motion sickness easily. I was only able to get her to go up with me three times in a small plane, and all three times she got sick in what she called "flying ceiling fans." 

Around 2002-04 is when first the Parkinsons set in, followed a couple years later with a form of cancer in the blood similar to Leukemia and originates in the bone marrow. At present, she weighs about 95 lbs. fully dressed. For three years she was able to travel with me to her sister's place in Ohio and stay there while I went to InZane or go visit my family on the bike. It's been a great life and restored my faith in the opposite sex following a divorce in the mid-80's after 31 years. Memories?  We have thousands....along with pictures to boot.