From the Heart
“If you are not seeing anyone would you like to have lunch or dinner?”
And so my “once upon a time” fairy tale began.
It was August of 2013 when Chuck asked me that question.
I had gotten to know Chuck over the years when he would come into the car dealership where I worked. He would wait in the sales waiting room while his car was being worked on. A few chats over the years would lead to many a conversation.
Our first date was lunch at Sahm’s Restaurant in Fishers. We were married six months later on February 23, 2014.
Photo provided
Honestly, after being single some 14 years, I thought finding love in the autumn of my life was not possible.
I often say that I am living a Hallmark movie where Chuck and I get to live happily ever after.
Love came so gently and ever so quickly. It just felt comfortable and oh, so right.
Chuck said at our age you don’t buy green bananas and you don’t wait to get married. I agreed with both.
On the day I knew that I had fallen in love with Chuck I had been shopping at Kohl’s when I slipped on rainwater and took a hard fall.
I drove myself to the hospital. As I waited for the X-ray, which would show a severe sprain, I called Chuck. A bit later he walked into the ER. He had the sweetest smile and said, “The nurse said your husband could come on back.” It was then that I knew. My life would never be the same. I had fallen in love with Chuck.
I remember telling my daughter Emily that we were getting married. I literally could hear her smiling on the phone. She said “Mom, I knew this day would come. I knew the first time I saw you guys together and I took your picture at the Colts game.”
Chuck proposed in the waiting room where we met. We had our wedding at his church, Castleton United Methodist. And where was our reception? In the showroom of Don Hinds Ford where we met.
It doesn’t get much more Hallmark than that. Just ask the 300+ friends and family who were there.
As I had gotten to know Chuck I found that he had the heart that I had waited to find all those years. We became that sweet little old, hand-holding couple that you see in the commercials for Hallmark.
We danced at our wedding to the song by George Strait, “I cross my heart.”
It’s still hard to listen to the lyrics without my eyes leaking …
“You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete
And as long as there’s a breath in me I’ll make yours just as sweet.
As we look into the future it’s as far as we can see
So let’s make each tomorrow be the best that it can be.
I cross my heart and promise to give all I’ve got to give to make all your dreams come true,
In all the world, you’ll never find a love as true as mine.”
I love introducing Chuck as my husband. I love that he still holds my hand and opens the car door for me.
And I still love a sweet Hallmark love story … especially ours. Cross my heart.