What fun topics for today's "Marriage Monday" discussion. Immediately I knew what I wanted to write about! My most memorable Valentines! Grab your self a favorite hot beverage and something chocolate and sit back and have fun reading!
Setting: a northern suburb of Albany, NY, west of the Hudson River and the city of Troy, NY; small luxury apt where rent was way too high but the amenities were worth it! (pool, tennis, heat/hot water included, AC, balcony)
Characters:
Dave: 25, married since 6/90, finishing up his MS degree at a local university and working as a software engineer in the city
Faith: 31, married since 6/90 to Dave, working as a Master Teacher in a self-contained Special Ed classroom in a PreK in the city.
Background Summary: We had been a "couple" since July 1989. We became engaged that fall, were both involved in our church in Troy and had our own apts in 2 different cities. Got married in June 1990 and moved to the suburb about 7 miles north of the city of Albany. Dave had a good job making a good salary (MS is in Computer Science ) I loved my teaching job at the private school although technically, I was under the auspices of the county/local public school system so the salary was not that great but hey..I had earned my MS in Ed. Psych/Special Ed and had my NYS permanent certification. I loved the career of Special Ed so was thankful to the Lord that I even had a salary....these were the days where special ed jobs were very competitive. Both of us were involved in the church (a small one where we met)and we were considered to be DINKS (remember that term from the 1980s/1990s?) Double Income No Kids. Since I got married at the age of 30 and we both had undergrad loans to pay off, along with old cars that seemed to constantly be in the mechanics, we decided to wait a couple of years before having a child. So, we both had good, full time careers going; about halfway through our first year of marriage I learned that the government would pay back any outstanding loans I had from undergrad days since I was teaching in an inner-city school with emotionally disturbed/abused children. Praise the Lord! We could start saving to build a house! Life was grand. (we also did not have to pay for our Masters degrees as both of us had won fellowships/scholarships for graduate school tuition). The Lord really did bless us and we are still so thankful for that today. We were trying to live on a budget but hey....when you are newlyweds and have no children you tend to go out alot! We went out just about every Friday and/or Saturday nite and we entertained many of our single friends or other church couples at least once a month. Around Christmas time, we decided to make a household budget with a spreadsheet and a book about married couples and budgets....well....let's just say our intentions were good and it only lasted until February. Here is where the memorable Valentine's begins!
Problem: February 14, 1991 was coming up. We were on a budget (supposedly). It was our first Valentines as a married couple. The previous year we had just gone out to dinner I believe. We both had to work the next day from what I remember. Ok yes. I just checked with AskJeeves.com and 2/14/91 was a Thursday. So...I had to be in the classroom the next day and Dave had to go to work, too. We didn't want to be out late and we really didn't want to go out to a movie. We had no dinner reservations because, remember, we were trying to be on a budget. We had no idea what we were going to do!
Plot: We gave each other our cards...Hallmark of course! I love giving and receiving cards and Dave, well....let's just say the amount of card giving has decreased over the years unless one of our daughters reminds him! But...we were newlyweds and bought cards for every occasion! So...in the a.m. before work, we gave each other our cards. Since I was a teacher, I got out of work at 3:30 pm. I had a whole 2 1/2 hours before Dave would be home! "what to do, what to do". I called Dave at the office and asked him for ideas or what he might want. His reply "Let's do dinner and a movie". I perused the newspaper for movies that were playing at the local malls. Nothing appealed to me. Meanwhile, Dave arrived home and said "let's go buy a VCR for the TV". "I thought we were on a budget?" Dave replied: "Well, we don't have a VCR yet (we had replaced my tiny tv for a bigger model that summer using some of our wedding money) and they aren't that expensive anymore". (true) And in our eyes, this would save us money in the long run because now we could rent movies, save on theater tickets (which were only $6.00 at that time) and we could make our own snacks at home! Things were looking up!
Solution/Conclusion: We went over to a local store, chose a VCR (on sale even!), went to the local video store, selected the most romantic movie of all time (CASABLANCA!) and then realized we were starving! By now it was a little before 8 pm and we had NO reservations for any of the nicer restaurants. We didn't feel like waiting in line and at that time our town had no Appleby's or Ruby Tuesdays. Our choices were Friendly's or fast food joints. We decided since we had just spent money on the VCR to go through McDonalds Drive-thru (I detest their food now but back then....loved their cheeseburgers!) and pick up dinner. Got back home to our cozy apt. Hooked up the VCR, cuddled on the couch, eating our junk food, with all the lights off except for candles, and then...well....I'll let you imagine the rest! Our final bill for the evening was $230.00: a VCR, dinner from Macky-D's, and a movie! Friends from our church joked with us about it for years! They thought it was so romantic and fun. And it was!
The next day we declared that we now had a tradition going....Casablanca every 2/14!
Have we done it each year? Just about. (we now own the video and the DVD!) Having children changes things and many times over the last 17 years we have gone out to awesome places for dinner, either with the girls or alone while they have had a babysitter. But we almost always follow it up with our favorite movie. Are we still on a "budget"? For certain things and during certain parts of the year, YES! But we have also realized that it is more important for us to make memories.....and sometimes that means spending a little more!
And there truly has never been a Valentine's Day like our first as a married couple. It has definitely been my favorite.
Characters:
Dave: 25, married since 6/90, finishing up his MS degree at a local university and working as a software engineer in the city
Faith: 31, married since 6/90 to Dave, working as a Master Teacher in a self-contained Special Ed classroom in a PreK in the city.
Background Summary: We had been a "couple" since July 1989. We became engaged that fall, were both involved in our church in Troy and had our own apts in 2 different cities. Got married in June 1990 and moved to the suburb about 7 miles north of the city of Albany. Dave had a good job making a good salary (MS is in Computer Science ) I loved my teaching job at the private school although technically, I was under the auspices of the county/local public school system so the salary was not that great but hey..I had earned my MS in Ed. Psych/Special Ed and had my NYS permanent certification. I loved the career of Special Ed so was thankful to the Lord that I even had a salary....these were the days where special ed jobs were very competitive. Both of us were involved in the church (a small one where we met)and we were considered to be DINKS (remember that term from the 1980s/1990s?) Double Income No Kids. Since I got married at the age of 30 and we both had undergrad loans to pay off, along with old cars that seemed to constantly be in the mechanics, we decided to wait a couple of years before having a child. So, we both had good, full time careers going; about halfway through our first year of marriage I learned that the government would pay back any outstanding loans I had from undergrad days since I was teaching in an inner-city school with emotionally disturbed/abused children. Praise the Lord! We could start saving to build a house! Life was grand. (we also did not have to pay for our Masters degrees as both of us had won fellowships/scholarships for graduate school tuition). The Lord really did bless us and we are still so thankful for that today. We were trying to live on a budget but hey....when you are newlyweds and have no children you tend to go out alot! We went out just about every Friday and/or Saturday nite and we entertained many of our single friends or other church couples at least once a month. Around Christmas time, we decided to make a household budget with a spreadsheet and a book about married couples and budgets....well....let's just say our intentions were good and it only lasted until February. Here is where the memorable Valentine's begins!
Problem: February 14, 1991 was coming up. We were on a budget (supposedly). It was our first Valentines as a married couple. The previous year we had just gone out to dinner I believe. We both had to work the next day from what I remember. Ok yes. I just checked with AskJeeves.com and 2/14/91 was a Thursday. So...I had to be in the classroom the next day and Dave had to go to work, too. We didn't want to be out late and we really didn't want to go out to a movie. We had no dinner reservations because, remember, we were trying to be on a budget. We had no idea what we were going to do!
Plot: We gave each other our cards...Hallmark of course! I love giving and receiving cards and Dave, well....let's just say the amount of card giving has decreased over the years unless one of our daughters reminds him! But...we were newlyweds and bought cards for every occasion! So...in the a.m. before work, we gave each other our cards. Since I was a teacher, I got out of work at 3:30 pm. I had a whole 2 1/2 hours before Dave would be home! "what to do, what to do". I called Dave at the office and asked him for ideas or what he might want. His reply "Let's do dinner and a movie". I perused the newspaper for movies that were playing at the local malls. Nothing appealed to me. Meanwhile, Dave arrived home and said "let's go buy a VCR for the TV". "I thought we were on a budget?" Dave replied: "Well, we don't have a VCR yet (we had replaced my tiny tv for a bigger model that summer using some of our wedding money) and they aren't that expensive anymore". (true) And in our eyes, this would save us money in the long run because now we could rent movies, save on theater tickets (which were only $6.00 at that time) and we could make our own snacks at home! Things were looking up!
Solution/Conclusion: We went over to a local store, chose a VCR (on sale even!), went to the local video store, selected the most romantic movie of all time (CASABLANCA!) and then realized we were starving! By now it was a little before 8 pm and we had NO reservations for any of the nicer restaurants. We didn't feel like waiting in line and at that time our town had no Appleby's or Ruby Tuesdays. Our choices were Friendly's or fast food joints. We decided since we had just spent money on the VCR to go through McDonalds Drive-thru (I detest their food now but back then....loved their cheeseburgers!) and pick up dinner. Got back home to our cozy apt. Hooked up the VCR, cuddled on the couch, eating our junk food, with all the lights off except for candles, and then...well....I'll let you imagine the rest! Our final bill for the evening was $230.00: a VCR, dinner from Macky-D's, and a movie! Friends from our church joked with us about it for years! They thought it was so romantic and fun. And it was!
The next day we declared that we now had a tradition going....Casablanca every 2/14!
Have we done it each year? Just about. (we now own the video and the DVD!) Having children changes things and many times over the last 17 years we have gone out to awesome places for dinner, either with the girls or alone while they have had a babysitter. But we almost always follow it up with our favorite movie. Are we still on a "budget"? For certain things and during certain parts of the year, YES! But we have also realized that it is more important for us to make memories.....and sometimes that means spending a little more!
And there truly has never been a Valentine's Day like our first as a married couple. It has definitely been my favorite.
6 comments:
AWWWWWWW! This was a very nice story.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Lori
that is a neat tradition! i love it! :)
Thanks Faith,
This is so touching! I love that movie too!
Hey, I may be renting that myself this year! (Ha Ha...)
On another note, I had a son in Special Ed all the way through school. I can't tell you how much I "APPRECIATE" you awesome women who dedicate youself to such special kids!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Good teachers are very much appreciated in our family!
I like how you watch the same movie every year, I don't think my husband would stay awake! But that's okay anymore, I like to watch him sleep.
Thanks for your story, I enjoyed learning more about you.
What a fun story that was! I love the movie tradition idea. You know, I have never seen Casablanca?
It's fun to think back to those early years of marriage, isn't it? It's so cool that you've turned your impromtu evening of Casablanca into a Valentine tradition. (He gets the electronics equip, she gets the romantic flick. What could be better?) You've put a big grin on my face!
A quick reminder to vote for next month's topic, if you haven't already.
Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today, Faith. :~D
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