Into the wee hours of morning, she came into the great room to show me her handiwork. From a sleepy state, I saw what looked like a deck of cards. They were secured by two binder rings at the very top of the deck. The front card was beautifully decorated and stickered with the words "52 Reasons Why I Love You"--an early Valentine and anniversary gift for her boyfriend of nearly two years.
I complimented her on her thoughtfulness and creativity. No, I wasn't permitted to look through the cards and have to admit I'm damn curious as to what she wrote on the cards. However, I also have to admit that my nineteen year old girl has earned her right to some privacy.
Next morning I got up and went to work. Kelly was still sleeping and would be off to Boiling Springs to see her boyfriend Zack at Garner Webb. He had come so many times to visit her at Carolina and so it was her turn to make the drive to see him.
I admire their dedication and the "52 Reasons" for sure.
That night I started thinking about me and my husband and I told him about the "52 Reasons" deck of cards.
We both half-joked that we'd have a hard time coming up with that many reasons!
Then it crossed my mind that maybe something wasn't right. Why would we joke about not being able to come up with reasons why we love each other? Not good.
Back in the day before we were married, I made my future husband a scrapbook showcasing all of the wonderful moments we had together. It was filled with lots of photos and mementos and souvenir tickets from our very first date. I had been working at Macy's Department Store in Sporting Goods earning money for college. That's when my friend Kenny in Young Men's Clothing asked if I would like to meet his good friend Tom. Kenny had two extra tickets to the Four Tops and Temptations concert at Westbury Music Fair and thought we might be a match.
I tried to bow out gracefully, but Kenny kept at it. And I eventually gave in.
A week before the dreaded blind date I was having serious second thoughts. What's wrong with this guy? He had already graduated college, landed a good job, but didn't have a girlfriend? Why? And what's with the Motown music? Couldn't we just go to a normal concert like Billy Joel, Styxx, or Fleetwood Mac?
I had no problem coming up with "52 Reasons Why I Didn't Want to Date This Guy!!"
The Sunday before our big date, I went to church with my mother. It was October and already cold, damp, and depressing weather on Long Island. I wasn't very hopeful about anything at all and tried to disappear into my oversized stadium coat. My parent's were separated and getting a divorce. I was in school studying Fashion Marketing and Management and clearly in a place I didn't belong. And there wasn't a male prospect in sight except for that stupid blind date.
And before I knew it, it was time for the "peace be with you" part of the Mass. I hugged my mother and turned around to shake hands with the guy behind me. He was tall and gorgeous with curly black hair and a well-groomed moustache. He looked like the actor, Tom Selleck. I shook hands with the local Magnum PI and he returned the handshake with his smiling face and beautiful eyes. And for the rest of the service, I couldn't keep my eyes away from his.
I left St. Martin's with a wistful heart, knowing that there wasn't a chance in hell that a guy like that would show up at my door.
But then next week arrived and miraculously the man I shook hands with at church arrived at my home! His name: Not Tom Selleck, but Tom Tessitore! And he became my husband. My Tom is the dearest, kindest, funniest, most beautiful man I have ever known. He's also a fantastic father!
And though I can't cite 52 reasons why I love my husband, that's five great reasons to celebrate 26 years of marriage and more than I could have ever hoped for!
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