ABOVE PHOTO TAKEN IN 2020 I was introduced to Roger by my late mother's friends Helen aka Chabba, and Anna aka Anky. Roger was a neighbor of theirs in Alpha.

The first time we met he came walking down my driveway wearing polyester pants, a safari style shirt, and mirror sunglasses. He is 6'4" tall and the first thing that came to my mind was the movie Walking Tall.

My late mother's friend Marie was there visiting and then my brother Buddy showed up. I invited everyone into the kitchen for some ice tea because it was rather warm as it was late June 1992.

The next Saturday he arrived for our first date with a dozen red roses in hand. He was taking my 12 year old daughter Jamiann and I to a picnic that was hosted by the parents of my friend Debbie.

The picnic was held in Bridgewater,NJ and this fact was particularly pleasing to Roger as this was his old hometown. He gave us a tour of his old neighborhood, a tree lined street of "Leave It To Beaver" style lovely well groomed homes.

The next day he took Jamiann and I to his parent's picnic in Solitude Village, High Bridge, NJ. Their home sat on a hill in a wooded, secluded development. His family was so friendly and welcoming.

The following October Roger proposed with a lovely two carat diamond ring. I had the most wonderful time planning the wedding and honeymoon.

We were married on June 5, 1993 exactly 15 years to the day after I divorced my first husband.

We had a lovely church wedding in Allerton, NJ, a joyful reception at the Alpha Firehouse with absolutely no alcohol served and all homemade food.  I also baked and decorated our wedding cake. Our first dance was to the song   Two Less Lonely People by Air Supply.

Our honeymoon was a trip to Florida with Jamiann. We spent several days at my Aunt Dot and Uncle Charlie's home in Cocoa. While there we took Jami to Disney twice.  Then Roger and I went on a cruise to Nassau in the Bahamas. 

We have now been married for over 19 years.  As Gladys Knight sings in her song You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me:

Oh, there have been times when times were hard But always somehow I made it, I made it through 'Cause for every moment that I've spent hurting There was a moment that I spent, ah, just loving you...