How I Met My Wife

First a little about me before I met Janet. I was thirty years old and going through a divorce. I was in the Ohio Army National Guards and at a guard drill. I had just recently transferred to another unit as I was displeased with the one I was in. This was in January of 1980. February I got my own apartment and moved out of my house. I was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at this time.

Now as to how I met Janet. She was in the new unit that I transferred to. Her job was equivalent to a parts store clerk. I was a mechanic and inspector. When I first arrived at the new unit I asked about the female personnel and was told that I would not be interested in any of them, they were either married or had boy friends. So I let it go at that. ( Right )

Aprils guard drill was around the 12th if I remember correctly. I did my job for Saturday and in the afternoon we had formation early, 1600 hrs or 4:00 pm for those that do not know military time. The month before our unit's NCO Club had bought a keg of beer and only a few stayed after drill and drank beer. So they had what I called a mandatory drunk. The First Sergeant stated that guard drill was over but nobody could leave until the keg was empty or 1700 hrs which ever came first. Since I was cooking dinner for a female friend of mine that evening I help with the keg being consumed by 1630 hrs.

I still hadn't really met Janet as of yet. I went to go home and my car was blocked and I could not leave. I went back inside looking for the owner of the car blocking me. It happened that he was talking with Janet. She was being a listening ear to his problems. When I asked if he could move his car for I was in a hurry Janet ask why I was in a hurry. I stated I needed to get home cause I had a date at 1900 hrs and it takes me about 1 hour to get home. She asked were did I live that it took an hour to get home. When I said Ashtabula she said oh, my neck of the woods. When I found out she lived in Geneva On The Lake, I asked her if she wanted to ride with me to drill in the morning , that there was no sense in both of us driving the distance by our self. She agreed, I got her address and phone number and directions to her house. Now mind you at this time I was not wasted but getting there. I had consumed my fair share of beer. This is another story that she will have to write about.

I picked her up for drill the next day and we talked about everything under the sun. After drill on the way home I asked if she would mind if I could come back later and talk some more for I enjoyed talking to her. She agreed.

That Day in April was the start of the best day of the rest of my life. Other then helping kids and a couple of moves we have seen each other everyday since. So starts a long relationship that I do not regret. She is a real prize that I intend to keep for all eternity. She is not only my love and wife, she is my best friend and we have been through a lot of trials, pain, and long sufferings together. I do not think I would be here if she wasn't there for me or I for her. I want everyone that reads this to know that I truly love and respect her.

I was divorced June 2 1980 and Janet and I were married by the justice of the peace on June 6 1980. That leaves room for another story. So I will end for today.