I remember the very first time I saw my husband.
He scared me. Not frightened. Scared. I had just started a new job, a job that was totally out of my comfort zone. The nerves were jumping and it was my first day in the office. The career change itself frightened me. I was 28 years old, a widow and a single mother. I was taking a leap of faith to better my life and the life of my child and it was terrifying.
I was being shown around the office: my cubical, desk, managers offices, meeting the staff. It was all overwhelming to me. Restaurant work and hospitality had been my life since I was 13. The new career was in sales, office equipment sales. A whole new realm. There was a lot of learning to be done, a whole lot. And I knew it.
As we were touring the building…![bruce]()
In office equipment sales we rely heavily on our technicians. After we sell the product the technician is the one who keeps the customer happy. We are a team. It is imperative that we communicate well and work towards the goal of keeping the customer satisfied. As we were touring the building we ventured into the domain of the technicians. We walked by a machine that was being worked on, and there on his knees, behind the machine was Bruce.
He looked up at me as we were being introduced…and I could see “it” in his eyes. My first day on the job…I did not want “it”. I was in a relationship, had been for a year…I did not want “it”. I was a single mother…I did not want “it”. Starting a new career…I DID NOT WANT “it”.
We shook hands, and I am informed that he is the technician in my territory. The one that I need to work with, communicate with, and be a team with. And he had “it” in his eyes.
The best partner in crime EVER!
Working with Bruce was the best partnership ever. He always made sure that my customers were happy. He answered their questions. He created relationships with them, everyone loved Bruce. Since this was a huge life change for me I realized how lucky I was to have him as my technician, he made everything simpler.
My relationship fell apart, I was crushed. Bruce made it simpler. He was a great friend, going above and beyond, as he always does.
Living Happily Ever After…Til Death Us Do Part.
Obviously, Bruce works at his career as he lives his life. As a technician he needs to make sure the customer is satisfied, that they feel valued in his eyes. They have a problem…he works at it until it is solved…no matter how long it takes. He communicates well with them, creating relationships, letting them know that they matter to him.
About 3 years after we met, I realized that Bruce made sure that I was satisfied, I always knew that I had value in his eyes. When I had a problem he worked with me to help me solve the issues, no matter how long it took. There was an open line of communication between us, he always had my back, and I was lucky to have him in my life.
Most importantly, he showed me in a million ways that I mattered to him…so I slowed down enough that he could catch me. Thankfully, he still had that look in his eyes, and I was finally ready for “it”!
For Better or Worse, In Sickness and In Health, For Richer or For Poorer…
Together, we have seen each scenario that the marriage vows depict. We have had the lows, and the highs. Through it all I know that we are in it together. Bruce still has my back, and there are times that I realize that he is actually my “backbone” when I don’t think I have one left.
Today is Bruce’s birthday, and I want to celebrate him. He is my best friend, my husband, an incredible father to our children. There is not one moment of the last 17+ years that has not been better because he was in my life. And I am looking forward to all the years that we will spend together on this adventure…
