This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

28 Days of Gratitude: Day 4

Nov. 4th – I’m thankful for my husband, David. (He is really second on my list, after my girls, but appearing fourth on my blog as I had a few guest bloggers.) ;-)

Our story is not your typical fairytale. Not at all. There were no princes, no white horses and no sweeping off feet. Instead there was laughter. Lots of laughter. And veal.

When I met David, I was in my mid-20’s and he was in his older 20’s. He is mostly 3.5 years older than me, except for 6 months when he is four years older. (I love to stress our age difference, it makes him crazy when I say he is MUCH older than me.)

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We were both living in Washington, DC and eating, sleeping, breathing politics. I was working on Capitol Hill as a scheduler to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and he was a lobbyist for Boeing. We met through the Connecticut Society, a social organization made up of Nutmeggers now living in our Nation’s Capital. We were both on the Board of Directors, and eventually became friends, then more than friends. It was a natural progression. When we first met, we were both dating other people. David met some of my boyfriends, whom he continues to tease me about today, and I was friendly with his girlfriend. We were all friends. Then one day, a few years later, we were both unattached and he invited to a friend’s holiday party. We count this as our first “real date”.

David was definitely not the typical boy I dated. First of all he is argumentative. Second of all he is a Republican. (See how I switched to current tense? Because yes, he is still those two things.) Which, may not mean much to some people, but when you live in Washington and work on Capitol Hill for a Senator who also happens to be the Chairman of the DNC (Democratic National Committee) it’s a bit of a big deal. Let’s just say I kept our relationship a secret from my coworkers for a while.

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But we have the same values and let’s face it, David’s smile lights up a room. (Again current tense). And he made/makes me laugh. Pure and simple. He is funny in a not-trying-to-be-but-rather-just-is funny sort of way.  But I think his most important quality is how close he is to his family. As an only child, David checks in with his mom and dad almost daily. (Yep, even on our honeymoon). His strong sense of family values and fun personality won me over and we eventually let everyone in on our secret.

We dated and laughed for a year. Working late, we would meet up for a late dinner, often splitting a steak and red wine at the bar of the Capitol Grille. We would spend Saturday afternoons at Kramerbooks and often go out brunches in Dupont Circle. We met each other families over holidays, and he blended right in with my crazy, loud Italian family, who fell instantly in love with him. No white horse, but there was the Frank Sinatra CD he gave me for Christmas that first year. That and his mother’s Italian cookies. I made him my grandma’s banana bread and taught him how to wear something other than jeans and his college sweatshirt when going out. We began finishing each other’s sentences. When Valentine’s Day rolled around the following year, instead of going out, he said he had a surprise for me. (Here’s where the veal comes in.) He spent hours cooking and made his mother’s homemade veal dish for me. I should have known something was up. He’s getting too serious, too fast, my mother said when checking in the next day. “Who buys veal at $14.99 per pound?” she exclaimed. (This is the equivalent of a marriage proposal in Italian families.)

We came home during Easter vacation and he asked my dad the big question. I know the exact conversation because my sisters were eavesdropping. A few weeks later, he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Thirteen years and two amazing daughters later, we are still laughing. I am so very grateful for David for coming into my life and for making me laugh every day. I love that he makes our girls laugh and that he would do anything for them. I love that he is so close with his family, and also mine. I love that my sisters have become his sisters and that he always puts family first. I love that he is interested in other people and that when he asks someone, “How are you?” he really wants to know. I love that he goes along with my crazy ideas, whether it’s decorating the house at 1:00am or having a family picnic at the beach in the freezing cold. I love that he planned a romantic weekend away to celebrate our anniversary, which included antiquing when I know he would much rather be on the couch watching some kind of sports game. I love that he laughs at my inability to know which sport is which, and is fiercely overprotective of his daughters. I love that he pours me red wine without asking, and that he always makes me coffee in the morning. I love that he doesn’t ask why I am organizing the Tupperware cabinet at midnight, or ironing on vacation (okay he does ask sometimes.) I love that he treats my nephews and nieces like they were his own children. I love that he tries to have patience with me at baseball games. I love that he will dress up for Halloween because I love to. I love that he supports me in whatever I do. I love that he gets my family.

He is an amazing husband and wonderful father, and I am so grateful…

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?