Fountain Valley News - Your Hometown Community Newspaper

I met Randy at a party in January 1977 in southern Minnesota. We caught each other's eye from across the room, and we just knew. I was barely 16 and he was almost 18. Before long he moved into my mom's basement and we 'lived together' for almost 2 years. He wanted to marry, but I wasn't ready.

The love was still there, but eventually we broke up. Each went on to marry and have a family, and I moved to Colorado in 1985. We talked a few times over the years, but even though we were both divorced, we weren't single at the same time.

Thirty-five years later, I sent him a message that I would call the next time I was in Minnesota. He broke up with his girlfriend and waited. And waited. Nine months later, I finally called. At last we were both single and still very much in love. We regretted the many years apart, but we were so thankful for this second chance. We felt like teenagers again! Only this time when he asked me to marry him, I said yes. Within a year we were married (in the cemetery in our home town, but that's a whole other story).

Married – but living 900 miles apart! That was our next dilemma. We saw each other as often as we could, but it took two years for Randy to sell his houses in Minnesota and finally move to Colorado. After selling mine, we bought our house in Fountain Valley, our home for several years now. We're so thankful that we're able to be Randy and Di again – forever this time, the way it was supposed to be.

Happy Birthday, My Valentine! Always and Forever Yours.

-Di