Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Best Decade of My Life


Let me start by first saying this: That is not a picture of me. Nor is it of my wife. But it gave me a serious fit of the snickers, so there it is.

Folks, I need to step aside from the usual fare and tell you a little something. Tomorrow, I will have been married to Lynette for 10 years. That's a full decade for those of you keeping score at home.

(I must pause here, or my wife will kill me. Yes, we got married on Valentine's Day. But that was only because I had a week off from school the next week, it was a Saturday, and neither of our moms would let us even consider getting married on Friday the 13th. We had no red, no hearts, no pink, nothing of the sort on our wedding day. So quit rolling your eyes.)

Now, back to the story. I know many of you think of me as the tough, hardened, mountain manish hunky hulkmeister. And yes, that's mostly true. But I do have a sensitive side.

And I just wanted to publicly tell the world (I know, that's redundant) that this has been the best decade of my life. My wife is the greatest thing (or person) to have ever existed on Planet Earth. I say this without hesitation, because it is true. She's the only person to ever fully understand (and tolerate) my quirks and faults, and she's simply the greatest mom since one Linda P. Dashner from Sumter, South Carolina (bearer of James in 1972, a kid with cheeks the size of Aretha Franklin's . . . calves).

Anyway, it's an overused cliche, but anyone who knows me will verify the truth of the following statement: I married up. Boy did I.

And so, Lynette, thanks for ten years. Here's to 60 more, and then may we both drop dead while playing bridge at the retirement home and go live in Heaven somewhere. I love you.

13 comments:

mckait said...

1972??

you are an infant!

an embryo!

I have sweatshirts older than you!!

Sweet words about your wife... it is good to appreciate the ones that you love...

LaFemmeSimple said...

Many happy returns you two! I remember that day as if it were yesterdy...man, that was a long time ago!

In case anyone wondered: we teased him pretty hard core while he was engaged...but it was a very lovely day :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and best wishes for many coming years! I'm glad the past decade has been great for both of you.

James Dashner said...

Come on, Kath, I bet you're a spring chicken yourself. As for me, I feel SO OLD. I absolutely can't believe that I was 15 TWENTY YEARS AGO. I still feel and act the same way as then.

Sweatshirts older than me? They don't have Mick Jagger on them do they? Ew.

Thanks Sarah and Kaleb. I'm one lucky dude.

J Scott Savage said...

Congrats to both of you.

Tamra Norton said...

Congrats, James. She sure did contribute a large dose of genes to those 4 darling kiddos of yours. Ya done good! :)

Luisa Perkins said...

Awwww.

We got married on 2/16 for the same reason (here's to 18 years for us on Saturday). It was Patrick's Winter Recess (he was teaching high school at the time), and we didn't want to wait until June.

Happy Anniversary!

Emmie-Lew said...

You're SO ROMANTIC, Jamie! I can hardly stand it! Congrats! Tell Your Lovely Wife Hello for me!

Marsha Ward said...

Ah-h-h-h-h! How Sweet! You're the Bomb, James, but you're blessed to have that dear wife. I hope you two had a wonderful day!

mckait said...

You are actually the same age as my oldest son! And no... lol

NO Mick Jagger.. and the zipper is falling off , as are the cuffs.. but still.

:)

Julie Wright said...

Who knew James had it in him to confess he married up? Lovely tribute to the lovely woman who has to put up with you. That was adorable. Congrats on your decade together.

Ron Simpson said...

Congrats on the ten years. I just hit three back in December. I am lucky I found someone who puts up with my quirks.

Ron Simpson said...

Next year is my 20th high school reunion. I have not been to any at all. I had two good friends in high school. I still have them, the rest of them.....pfeh. But you are right, 20 years ago, I got my drivers license and gas was 60 cents a gallon. My how times have changed.