Our Story, Our Life, My Love
I met Scott in high school and we married at the young ages of 18 and 19. We had two wonderful sons together, Tony and Mike. We just celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary this July, 12th. We never went to bed or left each other without saying “I love you”. I am so thankful that we had our typical morning time together before I headed to work the day “Our Lord” called him home. That was our time to catch up with one another from the previous day or talk of things that needed to be taken care of or things going on in the world. I treasured that time with him.
When I first met Scott, I could see what a loving and caring person he was. I loved his love for life. And I thought his blue dune buggy was so cool. He was a passionate person. Anyone who really knew him knew that when he cared about someone or something, he would put his whole heart into them or the situation.
I would like to share a few stories with you from over the course of our years together.
When we fell for each other
It was my junior and his senior year in high school. I was supposed to be going to my swim practice and on my way to the bus, I ran into Scott. He was sitting on the pyramid steps outside the school cafeteria. I was only going to stop by and say a quick hello and the next thing we knew, 2 hours went by. Then he asked me out for our first date.
Our first date
So, Scott wanted to take me to this Chinese restaurant that his family always went to. He was so excited to take me there. So off we go. The whole way there, he is telling me about how his family always goes there for special occasions and what he loves to order. On and on, the whole ride over. It was in central phoenix and back then that was an easy 30 minute drive. I just listened to him explain to me in such detail, the food, the atmosphere and I could see how excited he was to share that with me. I sat and just enjoyed listening to him but at the same time was thinking, “How do I tell him, I don’t like Chinese food”. Well, like so many things throughout our years together, Scott proved me wrong. I of course did not tell him and just let him order his favorite dishes and I ended up loving it! I’m not sure if I actually loved the food or he made me love it by his love for it and love for the place.
Our Wedding day
Most would say we were too young to embark on a journey such as being married. But, we knew it was all going to work out. We were both so scared and nervous. When looking at our wedding day pictures, you can see that in our faces. He could see it in my face when I met him at the altar. Before the ceremony started, they played what seemed like a very long song, where we had to just stand there, holding hands and looking at each other. He made this face at me and we just both started laughing, quietly. That was Scott. He knew how to get us through things.
Raising our sons
Scott was a wonderful father! He owned the role of fatherhood easily. His love for his sons shined through. As always, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to make sure the boys had nothing to worry about, other than just being kids. He was an “all in” father. When the boys were young, we worked opposite shifts so as the boys had one of us there with them. Friends would ask us, “When do you guys have time to be together?” Luckily, I only had to work part time and we made sure that when we were together, we spent time as a family…always. Our family was our life. Friday “Pizza Nights”, Sunday “Movie Nights”, weekend free time with Grandparents. Scott and I just enjoyed being with our family.
Scott always volunteered to help coach when the boys played baseball. When our oldest Tony wanted to play pop warner football, he was the equipment manager. Those are memories that he treasured.
When the boys hit those turbulent teen years, we knew that the only way we would get all of us through it was to stick together as a team. There is a current Tom Cruise movie that has a line in it. “Are we an effective team” We laughed when we watched it and said “That’s us”! So that became our go to statement when we had to deal with stuff. Did we always agree on the approach? Of course not, but the boys knew that whatever one of us said or whatever punishment one of us invoked, the other was going to back up.
Our boys grew into fine men that their Dad was very proud of. And, even though they were grown and on their own, he never stopped worrying and being ready to step in, in whatever fashion to make things easier for them. They are going to miss him but know that he did not want to leave them and he has a bigger job to do now.
Becoming Grandparents
On June 16th, 2014, Scott and I became proud and loving grandparents of James, our youngest son Mike and wife Cortney’s son. Of course, we both fell in love with James immediately. Scott just loved spending time with him. Most recently, Scott was starting to introduce him to his love for music and James of course loved it! They had a special track that we would put on and dance together to on the nights we babysat him. Scott loved spending time in our pool swimming with James and James especially loved to “night swim” with us so Grampa could turn on the pool lights and point out the stars in the sky to him. He was already trying to teach him his knowledge of astronomy. There was nothing Grampa wouldn’t do for James and like any Grampa, he let him get away with more than he should. We are all just so thankful that James had him in his life, even for a brief time.
Our lives are never going to be the same without him. We are going to think about him and miss him every day. He always said he wanted to leave the smallest footprint behind but what he didn’t realize that by being the loving, caring and big hearted man that he was; he left a HUGE footprint on so many lives. Not just his family.
I love you, My Hun and will see you again when it is my time to be called to Gods Kingdom. I just pray I can carry on your legacy in the way you so deserve.
