June 30th

This love story begins at a wedding.

Michelle had a best friend named Linda. Linda's daughter, Debbie, was getting married to Michael. This wedding was the first time Michelle ever saw Harry. He came walking down the stairs.

He was looking dapper, Michelle thought to herself. Wow, why can't I meet a guy like that, she pondered.

A few years after the wedding, Debbie, her husband Michael, and Michael's brother Jason rented the apartment above Michelle's. Their father, Harry, was coming over to install a ceiling fan for them. Linda knew Harry was coming over and she had informed Michelle of this knowledge, as well as the fact that Harry was single!

I was a little wild back then. I put on this black mini skirt, and this cutesy little top I had.

Michelle then went upstairs and Linda introduced the two.

I saw it, I saw him give me a look that said 'boy I'd like to meet her'.

Michelle then decided to mention that she also had a ceiling fan that needed to be hung. Harry promised to come by and fix it sometime.

That next Saturday, Michelle, was sitting at the kitchen table in her nightgown, having a cup of coffee. There was a knock at the door. It was none other than Harry. He had come to help hang the fan. While Harry was standing on the latter fixing the fan, he dropped some screws.

Harry dropped the screws on purpose, so he could make the next move.

Michelle picked up the screws and went to hand them to him. Her palm was open so Harry could grab them.

There are two ways it could have went. He could have grabbed the screws without touching my hand at all. But, he didn't. Instead, he swept his fingers across my palm. Is this it? Is this him flirting? Michelle thought.

They talked the entire time. Harry made cute comments and the two just really hit it off!

They didn't talk again until that Wednesday, June 30th, 1999. Harry had been on a short Wisconsin trip. But, Michelle had a wedding coming up and was planning to invite Harry as her date. Harry was walking up the driveway that continued down the side of the house. He was probably there to visit his sons and daughter-in-law. Michelle saw him from her bedroom window and opened it up.

"Hey, how are you?" Michelle questioned.

"We're headed to the warehouse, wanna come with?" Harry asked.

This was her chance! The kids drove separately and Harry drove Michelle. As they hopped into the silver and black Suburban and drove to the warehouse, they began talking again. Harry said yes, he would go to the wedding with Michelle. The wedding was a month later.

At least I'll have him for another month, Michelle thought.

After the warehouse, Harry went back to Michelle's place. They were outside taking a little walk on the sidewalk. They had been talking about constellations earlier that day. Michelle looked up and pointed to where she thought the North Star was. Harry came up behind her like a shadow and pressed his body against hers, as he redirected her finger to the North Star.

After they went inside, they sat across from each other, drinking Pepsi at the kitchen table, and continued to get to know each other. Later that night, Michelle looked at the time and realized how late it was. Since both of them had work early in the morning, they decided it was time to go. Michelle walked Harry down the stairs and outside.

"I'll call you," Harry said.

"That's what they all say," Michelle argued.

Harry then continued to explain that while he would call her, he would rather talk in person. As they were standing there on the stoop, the conversation didn't end there. From Wisconsin to hunting, the two love birds talked the night away. It had started to rain so they huddled together under the awning so they didn't get wet. The topic of Harry's beard came up. Harry said how his kids mentioned if he ever started dating again he would have to shave the beard. Michelle told him how much she loved his beard. By now, it was about 4:30 am and they began to hug goodbye.

"Boy this feels really good," Harry said. As they separated to break the hug they passionately shared their first kiss together.

When you are infatuated with a person, every sense is heightened. You see everything, hear everything, feel everything.

---

But the story doesn't end there. Michelle got ready for work, running on no sleep. But she wasn't tired. It was like she was floating through the day, running on those butterflies and good feelings that came with thoughts of Harry, and the expectation of his call later on.

Harry had gone to work as well, and that evening he went to play golf. Harry never, ever, lost. But this time, he did. Maybe it was because he was tired, or maybe it was because he just couldn't wait to go give Michelle a call. So after golfing that Thursday night, Harry called Michelle.

Before Harry's call that night, Linda had mentioned to Michelle that Harry would be at the camper for the fourth of July weekend. So she invited Michelle to come along. Michelle looked forward to seeing Harry again.

When they spoke, Harry never mentioned the camper. The next day, Linda found out that Harry would be going to Wisconsin instead of the camper and informed Michelle. She was sad because she was really looking forward to seeing Harry again. But decided it was best to take it slow and give him some space.

She went out to the side of the house to plant some butterfly plants. As she was gardening, she swore she saw Harry's car drive past. She brushed it off and continued working. Then, all of a sudden, Harry leaned over the side gate.

"Hey there!" Harry exclaimed.

"Oh my gosh, it's you! I thought you were going to Wisconsin." Michelle said.

"I am. Wanna come with?" he asked.

The kitchen window which looked right over the side of the house was open and Rachel, Michelle's daughter, who watched this whole scenario happen, screamed: "I'll have her packed in 10 minutes!"

Harry and Michelle finished planting and off they went to Wisconsin.

This being my first time to Wisconsin I probably asked 'are we there yet' every ten minutes. It felt like we were driving across the country.

When they arrived at the little farmhouse, the door was locked. They had to spend the night on the porch inside the screen door. Harry, the all knowledgeable made it seem like he knew everything about nature. Michelle was under the impression that Harry knew every cotton-picking thing, about every cotton-picking thing. As they laid outside under the breath-taking stars, Michelle heard a bird. She asked what kind of bird it was and since Harry knew every cotton-picking thing, he said it was a Whippoorwill. But truly, he could have said anything and Michelle would have been amazed. She was so wonderstruck. While they were laying there talking about everything from their childhood to work, they kissed and Michelle swears, she heard him say I love you, under his breath.

---

The next morning they went to the store and back to the farmhouse. This house was the cutest little place you can imagine. There were cutesy curtains with flowers on them, a kitchen with an old wooden floor, and the biggest kitchen table. Hanging on the wall was a clock, and every hour it played a bird call. Whippoorwill, coincidentally. On the side, there was a built-in wooden cabinet and across from it, a wooden hutch. When you walked in, directly to your right, there was this little table with an old fashioned mirror. On this little table, there was a bowl with bottles of rattlesnake anti-venom. Michelle didn't question it, she just continued to admire the house. There were old fashioned coffee tables, couches, lamps. It was like living in an antique store. There was even a sandalwood smell.

Later that same morning, they went into a little old barn. In that barn, there was a tractor.

"C' mon, I'll give you a ride on the tractor," Harry said.

As they were riding the tractor, they cut the grass with the brush hog that was attached. As they were riding the tractor Michelle's biggest fear came to life. Right in front of them, a giant rattlesnake appeared and Michelle almost fainted. Harry, saving the day, turned the tractor around and took Michelle back to the farmhouse.

They had spent the morning in the blazing summer sun and Michelle, still, light-headed from the snake, had decided to cool off in an ice cold tub. Michelle and Harry relaxed there until the water became warm. When they decided it was time to eat, Harry went outside and picked a tomato. This was the best tomato Michelle has ever had. The sandwich was delicious, the aged cheddar, to die for.

The next night, was the fourth of July and they drove to go see the fireworks. While they were watching the fireworks, Harry looked over at Michelle and said,

"Every time I kiss you, I see fireworks."

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This is the story of my grandparents. Every time my grandpa, Harry, leaves for work, my grandma, Michelle, looks forward to him coming home. She gets that same feeling she had when they first met.

When I was seven years old, they got married. It was Saturday, June 30th, 2007. In their wedding vows, my grandfather promised to bring home a rose every year on their anniversary to my grandmother. And every year, she puts out that vase, and every year, he brings her a rose.

Here is a picture of them almost 20 years later.