I remember so clearly the first time we met. He had lost his wife in May, very suddenly. I was in the middle of a rather unpleasant divorce.

A female friend called me that Saturday night, November 29, 1997, and suggested we go out for a glass of wine to a local gathering place. After much discussion, I agreed and she picked me up about 45 minutes later.

We found seats,ordered our drinks, were chatting, and listening to the music being played by the DJ. At a table behind us were 2 men and a young couple. One of the men was a little on the tipsy side and persisted in talking to us. The other man, Andy, asked me to dance. And we did! For most of the evening!

As we danced, we shared our circumstances which had brought us to this same location. We connected in a way I had never dreamed posssible. I was determined to stay single for the rest of my life. My thoughts and ideas regarding that seemed to loosen up a bit that night.

i learned so much about Andy, both through what he said and didn't say. And he learned the same about me.

As the evening for my friend and I came to an end and we were saying good bye to the people at Andy's table, I asked the young lady (Andy's daughter) to talk with me privately for a moment. I simply told her how much I had enjoyed her dad's company that night. And knowing her mom had just passed in May, if she wanted to tell her dad that if he called and asked me for a date, I would not say no. The choice to give him that information was totally up to her.

On the following Monday, late morning, i received a call at work. It was Andy. He asked if I would like to have lunch with him. Of course I said yes.

This was just the beginning of what proved to be the Best 22+ Years of My Life.

More memories to follow.