The Day We Met

I had no idea the person I’d just met (39 years ago yesterday) would change my life forever, and almost entirely for good (the “almost” is purely subjective—those are the parts Trudy2 1982of each other we haven’t finished fixing yet). I’m not sure who I’d be if I hadn’t met Trudy, but I do know I wouldn’t like him as much as I do the man she’s making me into.

I had no idea what was to come when I spotted this remarkably pretty girl amidst the 200+ members of a mass church choir. All I knew was that I couldn’t stop sneaking glances at her. And then, when she showed up a few nights later at our church’s drama group meeting, I thought, “She acts, she sings, she’s beautiful—what’s not to like?”

We had no idea when we went out for our first cuppa joe (we both loved coffee) that it was the beginning of a circuitous path that would lead to a lifetime together. Were we “soul mates”? Maybe from God’s perspective. But from our perspective, we were two very 25th Anniversary4different people who would need to do a lot of rubbing and polishing before we “fit.” Maybe we made each other into soul mates (“as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”). But at any rate, fit we did. And fit we do.

Where will the path lead from here? We don’t know, we only know that we’ll be on it together. And we wouldn’t have it any other way, even though the day we met…

We had no idea.

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
This entry was posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Quips and Quotes and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

85 Responses to The Day We Met

  1. This is the most beautiful thing I read today. Best wishes to you.

  2. mitchteemley says:

    Thank you, Anindita, and best wishes to you.

  3. I love a good love story and love to hear you both have had 38 years – here’s to 38 more.

  4. Beautiful! Happy Anniversary to you both! God bless!

  5. Bruce Cooper says:

    Soul mates. Interestingly, God tells Israel that He is their husband. And they and we by extension, had no idea either. My wife and I were married 50 years this last December and I could have never imagined what we have together now. And I suspect that this is just but a taste of God’s love. Blessings Mitch.

  6. Gail Perry says:

    Happy almost anniversary of the day you met Trudy! Do you also celebrate the anniversary of your first date? I think, especially during the pandemic, the more celebrations we have, the better. Not that you need special occasions to say I love you, ’cause I bet you do it at least 100 times a day. Maybe not say it but for sure think it. (Grammar gone on holiday!)

  7. Dora says:

    “The day we me . . . We had no idea.” Of course not. It was an arranged marriage, i.e., made in heaven. 🙂 What a lovely day to celebrate! God bless.

  8. Gary Fultz says:

    “Together”
    Magic words that light the ballroom of life and slay the dragons of loneliness. (I’ll quit now…lol)
    Good post mitch

  9. E says:

    Mitch❤️ I needed these words of wisdom. Do you think all couples possess the ability to evolve in marriage? Do they both need to be rooted in Faith for that to happen? (Asking for a friend.)

  10. josiesvoice says:

    It was fate, IMO.

  11. Sheree says:

    Charming

  12. Congratulations on your anniversary. 38 years how lucky you have been to find each other in your lives. May you continue to be so blessed.

  13. Congratulations, what a delightful story!
    Where will the path will lead… more great chapters as you walk together in the directives of the divine providence of God.

  14. Debi Walter says:

    Marriage is the hardest and most rewarding thing a man and woman can do. We just recently “met”, but thank you for making marriage look good. We need those examples for a watching world.
    Happy marriage yet to come.
    Blessings,
    Debi (and Tom, together over 42 years)

  15. When I first met my bride of 1976, it was through the mail. Not the email, not the online dating site and not even through anyone we both knew. I was a sailor in Hawaii. She was a highschool freshman in Milwaukee. We both went to the same church before I left for my enlistment, but I had never seen her because I was in the “college and career” group of a large church and she was a freshman. For some reason, our paths never crossed. But my mom noticed her and liked her. One day the youth pastor gave my wife an envelop addressed to me. The church was sending letters to service men and women in the days of the Vietnam War. She wrote and the rest is good history. I enjoyed your post because it brought back memories.

  16. Mark Johnson says:

    Nice story about you and Trudy, Mitch. Thank you for sharing it!

  17. M.B. Henry says:

    Awwww! 🙂 <3 Happy meeting anniversary!

  18. I love this story, you two make a beautiful couple ❤️

  19. K.L. Hale says:

    What a lovely tribute and wonderful story, Mitch. May God bless you both with many many more years. 💚

  20. sniderjerry says:

    Hey there Mitch, Someone told me the first 38 years are the toughest. You’ve got it made now. All the best. Jerry

  21. A lovely share, Mitch! 35 for my wife and I, and her love has forever changed my heart. Happy Anniversary!

  22. What a love story!

  23. Carla says:

    So beautiful. Happy Anniversary of meeting and beginning your love story.

  24. Happy Anniversary! 🙌🙌🙌

  25. Oh my! Marriage is such a beautiful thing when you find the right person. Looking forward to it in a few years.
    I admire your commitment skills and bond. For over three decades?! I salute you, Grandad!

  26. B-Rad says:

    Beautiful post!

  27. She’s so beautiful😍😍😍congratulations sir, for finding heaven’s best

  28. Aimee P says:

    Happy anniversary, Mitch!

  29. K E Garland says:

    This is beautiful. Happiest of anniversaries to you two <3

  30. Kimie says:

    This is beautiful 🤍

  31. emotional nice post.

  32. Ron Bouchard says:

    Amen. With you brother! My wife Nancy of 39 years is the most precious gift God has given besides himself! I just wrote a poem about her the other day on my blog.
    Thanks for sharing. I’m rejoicing with you . . .
    ~Ron

  33. This is beautiful, Mitch, Happy Anniversary to you and Trudy!

  34. Junie-Jesh says:

    Thanks for coming by. Love these kind of love stories. May you remain connected in this kind of way forever:)

  35. Well, this was the most beautiful thing I’ve read in a while. Thank you for sharing it with us.

  36. Lovely couple! Wish you all the best. Cutest love story.

  37. nfa7 says:

    Such an inspiring post.. I always wonder about that, how soulmate connections come along so beautifully but I can imagine the hard work put in the relationship that makes it challenging and amazing at the same time.. I wish you both all the best and hope someday we all get to have that! 🙂

  38. Great story. I just happened to read this a few minutes after my wife and I realized we first met 24 years ago today. Happy slightly-belated First Meeting Anniversary!

  39. Great soulmates!

  40. Singhshma says:

    So beautiful ❤️🥰

  41. Jennie says:

    Just wonderful!

  42. Karen says:

    Happy Anniversary! May you grow closer with each day. It just gets better and better. Father, bless this couple with a deep love for You and each other. May their love for each other reflect Your love for them. Amen.

Leave a Reply