Michelle, My Belle

K, so you keep seeing the name Michelle. Those who know me know that Michelle is my wife of 12 years. Visitors, she is my wife of 12 years.

Now that we're through with all the proper introductions, here's the short story of how a man named Hagerman found this lovely lady and together had two very lovely children (or something like that).

When I was in my sophomore year at the University of Northern Iowa, my future roomate and long-time friend Greg Uhlenhopp had an uninvited guest in his dorm room trying to to woo him through the pit of his stomache. That's right, "I'll give you this batch of brownies, you give me your lifeling, unending love."

The woo-ey was Michelle.

Over summer break Greg and I drove to St. Louis to visit a friend, and along the way, asked each other about fall dating plans. The two of us were equally pathetic, with no plans (and no prospects). So, I says to Greg, "Hey Greg, mind if I ask out that girl who baked you the brownies last spring?" Greg's reply was something like, "Would you please!" (OK, that's probably not true, this is what you would call creative license.)

Come fall, I asked Michelle out on a date (Friday night, we went to see Pretty Woman at the College Square Cinema). As I recall, we spent the night wandering the campus and talking about everything under the moon. She was wearing black shorts, a neon green short sleeve shirt with black polka dots and matching green and black polka dot socks, and a green bow in her hair. I recall all of this for her benefit, as I'm sure she would accuse me of not remembering anything of the evening.

Within 24 hours the boyfriend was an ex-boyfriend (good riddance loser Mike), and the rest has been history.

My wife always tells people how fortunate she feels to have "found me." In truth, she doesn't really know how much I married up (maybe she's figured it out after these 15 years of knowing each other). I appreciate a great many things about my bride. One of the best is that we can just lounge around next to each other for hours at a time and be content to not say much at all, but be perfectly comfortable in the presence and silence of each other. Some would call this boredom, but I think of it as the two of us just being like "peas and carrots." (Thanks for that one, Forrest.)

I get to write this about Michelle because she may never hop out here and read what I write. So, when you see my wife, make sure you tell her that her husband adores her, and you read it right here.