Nothing Like the Sun

Mick and I celebrate our 1st anniversary

Today marks the 13th anniversary of my marriage to my partner in crime, Mick. We met through an online personal ad I placed in December 1996, and though I can't find the text of the ad at the moment, I know I began it with Shakespeare's sonnet #130:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
If have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more deight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
  And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
  As any she belied with false compare.

Deep, huh? I thought so.

Within 48 hours, I received nearly 100 responses to that ad of mine. I only responded seriously to three or four. I remember one of them was an Indian fellow, and another was a single father of two children who was also a Christian minister.

What would my life have been if I had chosen one of them, I wonder?

Mick's response to my ad stood out in it's subtle humor, and I also liked that he was English (after all, I didn't have much to go on at that point). I later found out he'd written it after a drunken night out with the boys. No matter, we talked on the phone the next day and met in person soon after that.

For those of you who haven't heard the story, my roommate and I were having a New Year's Eve party and I invited Mick. He arrived some time after midnight and my first words to him in person were "Here, drink this quick," as I held out a plastic glass filled with champagne. The date was January 1, 1997.

We've been more or less inseparable since that moment.

I don't believe in soul mates. I don't believe people are meant for each other in any cosmic sense. But I sure am glad my path crossed Mick's and that we decided to merge our paths, because this life is damned good.

Comments

[Pop Culture Nerd]

That's such a great story! I love the photo of you two. Happy anniversary. My husband and I just celebrated our 13th earlier this year, too.

[Janet Rudolph]

Happy Anniversary, you two! Sounds like kismet to me..

[doreen]

How utterly sweet! Its wonderful that you both found each other and have that bond.
May you have many more days,months and years together.!

[Antoinette]

I love that you guys met face to face on my birthday. *sob!* Great story. I always adore hearing how people met the love of their lives. Your both damn lucky to have found each other. Happy Anniversary!

[Harold]

And now the roommates side of the story ...
Yes they were inseparable. After we all said happy new year, Mick came by, hung out with us then later Holly and Mick disappeared (I assume to his car for hours). After that, I knew they would be together for a long time. He was different than other guys...he treated her like a lady...with respect and humor. I've always admired that about him.

[Holly]

Thanks for all the kind comments, guys!

[Ann West]

Guess who has the original ad,and Mick's letters from1994?
There are some things too precious to dispense with - even with my extreme loft clearing. Many more happy years to you both. Love Mum

[[email protected]]

I remember thinking how fitting it was that my Computer obsessed brother, should meet the love of his life via computer dating. It led to me gaining a great sister-in-law. But Holly you are not the only one to have suffered 13 years of living with Mick. I have too! Love Graham and Sadie and Lucy xxx