Happy Birthday to the Amazing Mrs. Dude

Mrs. Dude turns XX today. We are celebrating by taking our Dudette, who broke her arm on Wednesday, in for elbow surgery.

Yeah…good times.

But I didn’t want the day to pass without Mrs. Dude knowing that I’d be lost without her. That my celiac journey and my life journey are enriched because she’s a part of it. That a day doesn’t go by that I don’t thank the stars that we’re together. And that 21 years after we met, I still don’t understand how I got so dang lucky!

I’m a much better writer than I am a speaker so I wrote her the following poem.

To the Love of My Life

In 1992
I made a simple trip
To celebrate Aunt Carol’s birthday
And out of the city I slipped

Who would watch Lauren
While we went out and ate?
AC had a plan
And boy did that turn out great

It took me a good three weeks
To make the dreaded call
Would she even remember me?
Does she know I’m not that tall?

My fears were totally unfounded
As you put me so at ease
It was like I knew you forever
And boy was I ever pleased

We set up our first date
Sushi and a movie
By the time the night had ended
We both knew this was groovy

It only took 11 months
Before we both knew
We wanted this forever
Ya ti bla le blu (Dude note: Russian for “I love you”)

Our wedding was just perfect
Our honeymoon the same
Then it was off to LA
To find my fortune and fame

But instead of finding fortune
We found unsteady ground (Dude note: Northridge Earthquake)
Our love was truly tested
And east coast we were bound

We settled in New Jersey
Plainsboro to be exact
The early years were rocky
But I would not take them back

Because we were tested early
And came through even stronger
I knew our marriage was meant to be
And we’d stay together much longer

Along came our dear Courtney
Our life would never be the same
She was such an amazing gift
With such a beautiful name

Three years later it was Maddie
Our family was complete
Throw in two great puppies
Our life could not be beat

We made the move to PA
Into the house of our dreams
Our marriage could not get better
Or so that it seems

But something strange keeps happening
My love for you keeps growing
How does this happen after 20 years
When many marriages simply stop flowing?

I’ll tell you how it happens
The answer is crystal clear
I married the perfect woman!!
I want everyone to hear

Thru celiac and cancer
And don’t forget the clots
And yes let’s throw in migraines
When you’re seeing tons of dots

You’ve held it all together
You are this family’s glue
Your strength is awe-inspiring
Your looks are not bad too!

You’ve aged with grace and beauty
Yes even when your hair was down
You are my pride and glory
Well…maybe not when your hair was brown

So today we celebrate
Twenty awesome years
We’ve laughed, we’ve loved, we’ve lived
We’ve gotten thru some tears

Isn’t that what marriage
Truly is about
Experiencing together
All that life dishes out

I love you more than words
Can ever fully say
You are my perfect soul mate
In every single way

So let’s raise a glass to us
As I make this toast
I love you no matter where we are
The east or the west coast

And if the next twenty years
Are anything like the previous ride
I’ll be the luckiest guy in the world
Because you are by my side

Happy Birthday Babe…I love you more than you will ever know.