13 years ago.....

Thirteen years ago two kids decided to get married. The lady was 21 and 8 month pregnant and the gentleman was 20 and in the Army. They didn't love each other, their reason for getting married was for the Army to pay for the birth of their child. They decided to get a marriage license in January, with no real date to actually take the plunge. Then Friday, January 21, 2000 they gentleman came "home" and declared that tonight was the night. So they called their witnesses to confirm time and place. He wore a purple shirt, her a crushed maroon velvet maternity dress. They drove to a little chapel outside of Ft. Lewis that was about ready to close for the day, but stayed open for this couple. Inside the chapel was a minister named Chic Jackson. She wore a black cape that had a hood. She lead the couple to a room that seemed so dark, lit by existing Christmas lights that had yet to come down for the year. The witnesses this couple called never showed up, so we had to pay the chapel employees to stand in as our witnesses. The vows were "we'll try" not "I do." No rings were exchanged, it was a quickie wedding without much hope of it lasting very long. The couple left the chapel, married with the whole world stack against them. Went home and went straight to bed. The phone calls eventually came to family to say they had gotten married. No one was really thrilled about their decision, but it was their life, they made a choice. Shortly after they married the chapel they said their "vows" in burnt to the ground.  This couple had to figure out life together, grow up together, and fall in love with each other. I wish I could say that this couple lived happily ever after. Their life is hard, but the sacrifices they have made on the journey have been worth it. Not always happy times, not always bad times.....the most important things is love. Yes, this couple fell in love with each other. Not just the normal love...deep love that was formed out of a beautiful friendship. Love that can conquer any problem any situation. It may take time, but love will win out in the end. One day (soon) they will renew their vows, in a location they choose. They will do it the right way on a foundation of faith.  The important thing now is that they made it, despite all the people who said and still say will not make it. What happened thirteen years ago in a tiny chapel outside of Ft. Lewis, was the beginning of a beautiful love story.