My love story

This past weekend was very hard.  Gene and I met on Memorial Day 24 years ago.  We were both invited to a "family" picnic by friends.  Gene knew I would be there, but I didn't know he would.  I had separated from my first husband in October and moved to Maryland to live with my sister.  I had never been single really as I met my first husband when I was seventeen and had never really been on my own.  I was working at the local sports arena for the Washington Capitals and enjoying my new found freedom.  I wasn't going to go to the picnic because I was quite hung over from partying the night before, but my brother-in-law insisted I go.  When we arrived I laid down on the backseat of my car where my nephew was sleeping in his carseat.  I had drank quite a bit the night before and was really tired.  As I lay there I heard voices and looked out the window, that's when I first laid eyes on Gene.  He was just coming back from the store with our hostess.  Once I finally pulled myself together, I went in the house and we were introduced.  Everyone who was there will tell you that he followed me around like a puppy all day.  Late in the afternoon we sat on the porch and talked for awhile and I gave him my phone number.  That was it for both of us.  We went on a date a week later and became inseparable.  I would ask him later in our relationship why in the world he ever even talked to me after seeing me so hung over and he would always say he figured it was the worst it could get!  We moved in together on Fourth of July weekend.  During my first marriage, I was infertile and spent over $10,000 dollars trying to get pregnant.  I had told Gene this and he was ok with not having children.  We spent our first year together living in the city in an apartment.  It was like a honeymoon for that whole year.  We'd sit by the pool, go to dinner, visit the monuments in Washington, DC, travel to see friends, etc., etc.  He traveled often for his job and during one of his trips I missed my monthly visit and when he returned I did a pregnancy test which came back positive.  I was in total disbelief, but after the third test by my obstetrician, I finally believed I was pregnant.  Gene was ecstatic, and so was I. Our son was born in 1987 and it felt like we were living in heaven, even though we didn't have much money at the time. All of this brings me back to Memorial Day.  We met on Memorial Day and married on Memorial Day.  So this year I was pretty much a wreck most of the morning.  I miss him so much and the pain is still so raw.  We had such a perfect love.  Never any regrets.  Never any question that we would not be together forever.  I always explained my love by telling people there was a string attached from my heart to his, and nothing could ever break it.  Sure, it would stretch sometimes when we'd have one of our little spats, but never did it break and it's still attached and I don't know what to do without him.   Tomorrow will be out 21st wedding anniversary and I will be spending it alone--another milestone to get through.