My Parents - Part Two

See Part One HERE.

What was my dad supposed to do? There he was, about to propose to his girlfriend and then he's offered the opportunity to meet the President?

My dad politely declined the offer, got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, in front of the Washington Monument.

She said yes and as they were walking away from the monument, they walked past President Bush and the secret service agents, and were again given the opportunity to meet him. They did, and President Bush congratulated them on their engagement.

They were married today - 12 years ago. On their 1 year anniversary, they returned to the Washington Monument and other memorials in D.C. When they returned to their Ford Bronco, they had found that someone had ignored the car alarm and broke into the truck.

Luckily, they had only taken my stepmom's purse. They had missed my dad's wallet, the jewelry he had just bought her and the car phone! I remember them coming home that night with a window missing and my stepmom looking up people to call to report her credit cards and such stolen.

Then, 4 years ago, they were at a cabin in Colorado to celebrate their 8th anniversary. I got a call from my father early that morning. He told me to turn on the news and briefed me on what happened. At the time, I worked on the Marine Corps base at 29 Palms. He said if I absolutely had to go to work, to be smart, listen to what any military personnel tells me, keep my eyes and ears open, and be safe.

So needless to say, the wedding anniversary of two of the most important people to me is tarnished by evil. How do you celebrate when it's the anniversary of terror, evil and a time when our country lost so many lives; a day when our country changed.

I called them today to wish them a happy anniversary. What are they doing today for their anniversary? They're going out to a BBQ joint for lunch.

Thing's will never be the same....