I met Debbie in 10th grade, at Cedar Grove Christian Academy, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My parents decided to torture my sister (Muffie) and I by pulling us out of the public school system, taking us away from all our lifelong friends, and putting us in a "Christian" school.

I think it is safe to say, we both hated it with a passion. A very long ride to school every day, in a Volkswagen bus, driven by a teacher at the who had more grease in his hair than in his engine.

I will never forget the very first day of school. Filled with fear and trepidation we entered the sanctuary of the church, where all students and faculty met the first day. As I surveyed the situation, trying desperately to find potential friends and allies I'd eventually need as I encouraged the insurrection of the school, I noticed a beautiful young girl standing on the far side of the church. Much too petite to be of any use during the insurrection, but intriguing nonetheless.

I immediately did what teenaged boys did, I began to stare at her, all the while secretly hoping I'd find her in some of my classes. I'm sure everyone has heard the mythical term "love at first sight". Little did I know, this was truely the case that first day of school.

It turned out that Debbie and I were in ALL the same classes! I was much too bashful at the time to do much more than stare and admire her beauty from afar. I had feelings for her that I had never experienced before.

After moving to Florida (another chapter in my parents never ending attempt to make us miserable), a hitch in the United States Navy, and a move back to my hometown in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, a mutual friend (Janet Hesse) somehow had the good sense to get Debbie and I together.

Debbie actually called me and asked me to go to church with her. I guess that could be considered our "first date", and it was one of many. After dating for a whopping two weeks, I asked her to marry me. Naturally, she looked at me like I had two heads and said something along the lines of, "lets slow down and see what happens".

Well, exactly one year from our first date, September 20, 1975, we did get married. That was over 31 years ago, and believe it or not, we're still married, and on occasion, still happy!