You Bet I Do!!

           

               “It was 20 years ago today……” This was the opening line to arguably one of the greatest albums ever recorded- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by that little pop quartet, the Beatles. And it was 20 years ago today that Cindy Todd, in front of God and a bunch of family and friends, swore to love me in sickness and in health, and in blah, blah, blah, till death do us part. And so far, she has lived up to that oath, because we’re both still kicking, and we are still married. Whouda thunk???

                Let’s get a little perspective. Let’s borrow Doc Brown’s flux capacitor and go back in time to 1994. I finally graduated college and, breaking my girlfriend Cindy’s heart, moved to Texas with my college roomie Shawn McEvoy. We found a decent little apartment in Arlington, and I got a job as an Assistant Manager at Blockbuster Video. (Remember video stores??) Cindy was working in the Admissions Dept at OBU. That summer Shawn and I saw a few good movies- “The Lion King” had just opened, as well as “Forrest Gump”. (I’m sure Shawn and I painted a fine picture as two adult men openly sobbing in the theatre as Forrest buried Jenny.) We also watched former football player OJ Simpson lead police on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in his white Ford Bronco. And at the end of the year, the Dallas Cowboys were marching their way to play in the Super Bowl in early 1995. But I had other plans- I finally manned up, bought a ring, and when Cindy came for a visit that summer, I popped the big question. Her immediate response was “Are you serious??!!??” Then she said “I don’t know. I have to think about it.” And she thought about it- overnight. That was an awkward evening, I can assure you. But the next day, after I had been sweating all night, she finally said “Yes”. And so began our long, epic journey together.

               

                Cindy became Mrs. Bartley on Dec. 31, 1994. New Year’s Eve. It was cold that night, my friends. We got married at 6:00 at the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, with a reception immediately following. Of course, being good Baptist boys and girls, there was no imbibing of spirits, nor was there any gesticulating to music. But a good time was had by all. Cindy and I stayed at a B & B that night, while we hear that several of our friends went out to some local honky tonk and danced and partied the night away. Some people even met spouses there, but that’s another story.

                Being a responsible husband, I had to get a real job. I had been managing the local movie theater in Shawnee since my return to Oklahoma, but I needed something more stable. So I turned to the one thing that I was trained for in college- teaching. Fortunately my alma mater, Del City High, was in need of an English Teacher at the semester, and they welcomed me with open arms. Cindy and I settled down in Shawnee where we have remained ever since.

                A lot has happened over 20 years. We have both gone through the “better and worse”, and we have always been there for each other for all of it. There were births: Sabrina, Marilyn, and our twin sons. And there have been deaths: our twin sons, Cindy’s dad Bob, and my mothers, Sherry and Geraldine. There have been job changes: after Cindy had worked loyally for years at a local semi-Christian college, she was unceremoniously dumped. But she landed on her feet, and became a counselor at Shawnee High School, where she is still making a difference in kids’ lives. I taught, went to grad school, taught some more, tried to sell insurance, and finally taught some more. I’m currently also at Shawnee High School, where I teach just a few feet away from my darling bride. It’s a good thing we like each other……

                Yes, we have gone through a lot in these 20 years, as most couples do. Ours in not the perfect marriage- whose is? There have been times when I wanted to strangle my buttercup, and I know for a fact (perhaps even right now) when she has wanted to strangle me. There has been much laughter and many tears. And I can’t think of a better way to have spent these 20 years, then with my best friend. (I know- it’s such a vomit-inducing cliché, but she really is my best friend.) She’s my BFF, my bestie, my Constant, the love of my life. We’re not lovey-dovey huggy-wuggy people, but I know that I will always love her with a passion and an unwavering love, and I can say with certainty that she feels the same for me. I’m not sure I believe in “soul-mates”, or that we’re destined for only one person, or that God provides us with these people. But I do know that every day I thank God for letting be married to Cindy Todd Bartley. Happy Anniversary babe- I love you. Let’s try for another twenty!!!