The story of a boy and a girl

Fifteen years ago today a 21 year old girl married a 22 year old boy. They were both still in college, working part time at the mall and had no idea what the future would bring. All they knew was that they wanted to find out together. Four months after the wedding, the girl graduated college but the boy didn't because money was tight. A year and 3 days after getting married, the boy left for Army Basic Training. Life was difficult and the Army seemed the right move for the young couple. It guaranteed a pay check and medical coverage. They would see how it went. The boy, now 23 came back a man. Life got better. They moved. Moved again. Moved to Europe, traveled around and then moved back to America. They moved a few more times. The boy advanced in rank, life continued to get better and 7 years after the wedding, a baby boy came along. Life was good. Money was tight at times, but they managed to get by and were generally happy. War came and the boy went. The girl and the baby, and a couple of dogs picked up through the years stayed behind and waited. The baby grew. The boy came home. Different, but still they endured. The baby grew some more, the boy got promoted, the dogs slept and the girl held it all together. They moved a few more times. The boy went to war again. The second time was worse than the first. The boy had nightmares, anger, flashbacks. The girl was sometimes afraid, but they moved on, worked through it and life got better. They moved again. They grew older and wiser. They fought. They laughed. The baby grew into a little boy who charmed and amazed them. The boy got promoted. They moved. The boy went away every now and then and the girl and the little boy waited. Life was sometimes stressful, sometimes fun, sometimes crazy. The boy went to officer school and they moved yet again. The dogs still slept, and the little boy still amazed them and brought more joy than they could ever have imagined. The boy and the girl were no longer the boy and the girl that got married. They had changed along the way. Grown apart at times and back together. Fought and loved. Laughed and cried. Life was not what the boy and girl expected that day fifteen years ago. The boy did not tour with his band. The girl did not write the great American novel. Those dreams fell to the wayside somewhere along the journey. The boy and the girl came to realize that they didn't mind. The boy and the girl were amazed at how far they came in those 15 years.
Today the boy is spending yet another anniversary away thanks to the Army and the girl and the little boy are staying behind and waiting. The dogs are sleeping. Life continues to get better.

Happy Anniversary Mr. HH.