I think I’ve written about Harry’s before, but this was Leroy’s first trip. This old fashioned Hauf Brau is located just down the street from Tammy’s salon in Livermore. I occasionally talk her into going in there with me and everytime I’ve gone home and bragged about it Leroy. Today, I had an open-faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. (YUM!) Leroy had a French dip sandwich. It was delicious.
I could have never imagined that I would be more in love with this man today than I was the day we were married. I can’t believe how much our marriage and relationship has evolved over the last 23 years. It also seems that the more difficult the times, the more we lean on each other and the closer we become. He truly is my soul mate and I can’t imagine happiness without him.
Over the last few years I’ve began to realize how dependent I’ve become on him. Twenty plus years ago, this would have frightened me and I would have felt weak because of this dependency, but now, it just feels better. This is what we are supposed to be for each other. It’s not even really a matter of dependency as much is it surrender. We truly are a couple more than we are individuals and that fact only becomes more evident as time goes on.
We spent the day doing our favorite thing… just being together. We went to mass, then to lunch and a movie with Sierra and Brandon. When it’s done well, every day is a celebration when you’re with the ones you love.
Today is the 25th Anniversary of my first date with Leroy. He surprised me with lunch at the office this afternoon.
We were friends in high school long before he ever asked me out. (Only friends that whole time even though I had a huge crush on him.) When he finally did ask me out it was for dinner and a movie, but he called that morning and cancelled because he was going to be out of town. (I later found out he went to party in San Luis Obispo.) I can’t believe I agreed to go a second time, but I did and this time it was to a Halloween party that his brother was hosting in the shop.
My father had not met him and I wasn’t sure I was going to be allowed to go. Leroy had to make a good impression, or I wasn’t leaving the house. We had decided to go dressed in 50′s outfits (poodle skirt and my mom’s high school sweater) because it was easy. He showed up with his hair greased back with Vaseline and a pack of cigarettes rolled up in the sleeve of his t-shirt. My hopes of going to the party quickly faded away as he approached the porch. Fortunately for me, Leroy impressed my father with his firm handshake and eye contact.
I don’t remember much of the party… other than the fact that I was a big awkward trying to figure out how I was supposed to behave as his “date” instead of just his “friend.” It was weird. The most vivid memory of the night was the stroll behind the shop out by the calves. I remember the entire yard cast in orange light from the winery and thinking that it was so cool… but I especially remember the kiss.
I’ve written extensively on the impact football has had on my family. Each one of us has had a different experience, Steel as a player, Sierra as a cheerleader and Leroy as a coach. For him the good still outweighs the bad and he enjoys coaching the sport he loves so much. Don’t get me wrong… we love football, but there is an ugly side too… and without meaning any disrespect… it comes from the parents. Every parent in the world wants 11 players on the field… the 10 best players and their kid. I get this. I’ve been there. But what I fail to understand is the blatant disrespect that some parents will demonstrate to prove their point. Unfortunately, it has become more of a problem in recent years. Just like other areas of our society, children are not required to take responsibility for their actions. Parents will blame anyone or anything other than their kid for bad behavior. It’s the coaches’ (teacher’s, administrator’s, boss’, friend’s, law enforcement’s… etc.) fault. They are not doing their children (or society) any favors and the worst part is that they don’t get all of the benefits of participating in a team sport when they harbor that kind of attitude. I have to admit that sometimes, I am embarrassed by the parents screaming from the stands during a game. I am humiliated by how stupid they sound and how their actions reflect on the program. Leroy says he can’t hear them because he is focused on the game, but unfortunately I hear every word. I don’t burden Leroy with any of this for my fear is that it will discourage him as well and keep him from coaching. But I have to admit it will keep me from the game I’ve grown to love. Bad parents are ruining football for me. That’s a sad and hard thing to admit.
In the meantime… I’m going to treasure moments like this. The initial adrenaline rush the first time Leroy’s team takes the field at the beginning of a new season. The pride I feel when he leads his coaches and boys in a hard-fought victory. For me the good still out weighs bad parents. I’m just going to have to learn some new coping skills.
As Leroy transitions out of his role as a farmer there are several changes and adjustments that have been difficult and sad. Some have been abrupt and some are still in process. But, one thing that he will not miss is irrigating the corn. This is one of his LEAST favorite responsibilities. Today is another one of those milestone days as it is the last time that Leroy will irrigate the corn before it is chopped. A day of celebration.
It is very difficult to decide what to give Leroy as a gift. He never asks for anything and is always content with whatever little silly thing we find. Keeping this in mind, you’ll understand my excitement when he asked me to bring him a towel from my bathroom because his cabinet was empty. A towel would never constitute a “gift” in my eyes, but with Leroy’s simplistic attitude, he would appreciate opening his cabinet and having clean, dry towels ready for the taking. I’m pretty good at keeping up with the laundry, but I think some of his towels have been taken out of the house and lost along the way.
I purchased 7 new towels for Leroy for Father’s Day. They have matching colors so it will be obvious where they belong then the laundry is being put away. I know it’s simple, but they are sure to bring a smile to his face.
Not very many people in the world get to watch a fashion show with their husband and son as models. As a part of the BASH events (see post from 4/23/10) CCHS held a luncheon and fashion show today. Many students participated including several seniors with their parents and/or siblings. Steel wasn’t sure he wanted to do it since he’s stuck on crutches, but with some kind encouragement from the coordinators, he jumped in and had a great time. I was VERY impressed with the quality of the production and just how entertaining it was. Each “act” told a story. Of course I got very choked up when my husband and son walked the cat-walk to the song “Beautiful Boy.” Another priceless memory.
I really don’t enjoy doing portrait work but when this opportunity came up I couldn’t resist. The staff at Leroy’s office needed new head shots for the their website and the office manager asked if I would do them. It’s not my favorite, but I was anxious to meet all of the people that Leroy works with so I agreed. After a tour of the facility looking for the perfect location, we found a wall near a window that worked great. It was nice to finally put a face with the name. Leroy has had a great experience with these people at his new job.
I got the brilliant idea a few days ago to complain about my kitchen faucet on Facebook. I’ve been asking for a replacement faucet for a few months. We have very hard water here and it damages the faucets. They become so corroded that the water flow is really reduced and that is what has happened here. It takes forever to fill a pot and makes cleaning dishes and the sink a real chore. Leroy joked that you could make a sandwich in the time it took to fill the water pitcher. My hope was that a little peer-cyber-pressure would push Leroy into finally taking the time to replace it. Much to my surprise… today was the day. Leroy came home from work with a new Moen faucet and had it installed (properly) in a matter of minutes. I am a lucky girl. This is quite possibly the best Valentine’s Day present I’ve ever received. I can’t stop playing with it.
It is strange to think that I’ve been in love and married to this man for most of my life. We’ve been married for 22 years (in November) and I can honestly say that each day I love him more than the day before. As I sit and write this even now, I find it difficult to express the depth of emotion I feel for him. The word love seems too simple.
I married Leroy when I was only19 years old and at the time I did not realize that God had placed him in my life. Leroy was willing to sacrifice so much to love ME…to marry ME… I should have recognized it as his true character, but I was not mature enough to even begin to understand the gift I had been given. But, through the years I’ve grown to appreciate and cherish him. He is strong, loyal, faithful, passionate, hard working and kind. He is a wonderful father and a devoted husband who loves his family with all of his heart. He is committed to our marriage and to our children and has demonstrated this through all of the time and energy he puts into each of those relationships. What more could a girl ask for
He is the love of my life, my best friend and my partner. He truly is my soul.
