November 17, 1978.  I honestly don’t remember much about the actual day, but I do remember that I was invited to a party thrown by my good friend Craig that evening.  There were a lot of us band types invited to this party so I knew it would be fun, but this night was going to be different because I knew HE was going to be there.

I arrived at the party with another friend because HE couldn’t be there until later.  I remember standing in the middle of the party room with a small group of friends talking when HE walked in.  He walked straight over to our group and took my hand in his. We walked away and began talking.  He was a little nervous apparently because he managed to squeeze the plastic cup holding his drink so hard that it broke and spilled all over his leisure suit.  Yes I said leisure suit. It WAS the 70’s after all.

There was a balcony overlooking a small lake from the party room and even though it was November, the air was still fairly warm.  I remember leaning my back against the railing when he leaned in for the kiss – the first kiss.  It seemed to last forever and despite the fact that there were a lot of people there, I didn’t care what it looked like or what they might think.  All I know is that I was lost in that kiss and I knew this guy was the one.  The one with the drink all over the leisure suit.

Flash forward forty years and we’ve now been married a little over 38 years.  A lot has happened since that first kiss – three kids, two weddings, and now two grandchildren.  We moved numerous times, have both gone back to school, held many jobs, supported each other through hard times and change.  We share a mutual love for music and music education and I find myself falling in love with him all over again every time I watch him teach, conduct or talk passionately about music.  And it all goes back to holding my hand and that kiss.  The same things that are important in our relationship today as they were 40 years ago.

I have no words to explain the mystery of how great relationships are formed or how soulmates have a chance to meet, if soulmates are even a real thing.  I tend to believe this was a God thing, not something I was looking for, but something He knew I needed.  And so, 40 years later, he is still the one I want to take my hand and give me a kiss goodnight.

As I look at him tonight, sitting in his recliner with his throw and checking out social media on his cell phone, I smile at how simple our life can be sometimes and how that simplicity can bring such joy.  As simple as a first kiss.