E-mails from My Wife, Sue: Memories from a 37-Year Marriage

My wife Sue and I have been married for 37 years. We have known each other since we were children, so there are many memories we share. Recently, she began to e-mail me just to bring back some of those wonderful times we had together. Here are a few of those remembrances.

First, here is a long ago memory about when we were very young children. I was older than Sue. We would play sometimes but then when older kids came along I would leave and go with them:

"I still think about the long-legged boy who played with me and my friend in my sandbox! You were so nice to two little girls who were so much younger than you were. You would lay out a town and bring your little cars and men and we would play city. You would even have stores and such. It would be fun until the other big kids came and dragged you away. Somehow it just wasn't any fun then. It still isn't fun if I can't share my HAPPY with you! I LOVE YOU! "

When we were first married and I was in college we had a very small place to live. I had a late night class. The University was near our home and there was a Jack in the Box restaurant near by. When I had the money, I would stop and get a snack for us. Those cold winter nights were made a little easier by the warm french fries and our cozy little house.

"Hey! Remember how you used to get tacos and French fries from the Jack In The Box?? WOW! MMMM!!"

Like many couples, we had "our song". It was All I have to Do is Dream by the Everly Brothers.

"Remember when we would be going home from anywhere and All I Have To Do Is Dream would play on the radio? That quit when we left Fort Worth and moved out of state. I guess we lost our lucky song after that! Oh Well! Nothing lasts forever but us! Love ya."

When we first started dating we would go to the Drive-in Movie Theater. I could afford it because it was only $1.00 per car. They had a great concession stand and I loved the very messy but delicious chili dogs. I also liked for her to take a sip from the coke. I would kiss her and it would be cold and sweet.

"Remember when you used to like me to take a drink of cold coke and then you would kiss me? It never tasted as good to me as it did to you. I guess the fun went out of that along with our youth. It's nice to remember, though. We did some funny, silly things, but isn't that what you do when you are young and in love? Hey, do you recall those hot-dogs at the drive-in? You sure did like those. You sure can't get them anywhere today! What is it I said? Life goes on--------Love ya"

Before we were married I joined the Navy. I was in the Navy from 1965 to 1968. During that time, men had a military obligation. My Uncle had been drafted right after he was married so I wanted to get my duty over. I enlisted when I was 17 years old. We were engaged while I was in the Navy.

"I have always loved getting letters from you. When I was younger I would rush home each day in hopes of getting a letter from you. If I got one I'd hurry through it once and then go somewhere quiet and re-read it over and over again. Back then I would also look forward to a phone call from you. You have such a great voice on the phone. Your voice would just reach out and wrap around me like a blanket. One phone call kept me going for months and the letters were always so descriptive that I felt I'd been having a long discussion with you. You made me feel as if I were more than just a girl you had the hots for. That was really important to me. I always felt like an important somebody with you. I still do.-----Love ya"

These are a few memories of a wonderful relationship that is still going on. To the reader I hope you are able to be in a relationship that is as wonderful as ours has been. The key to a happy relationship is to enjoy simple pleasures together. Respect each other. Recognize that there will be some bad moments but remember from time to time how important the other person is to you.