Today is Valentine’s Day, the day that some people love, and others hate. The day that forces even the least romantic amongst us to buckle down and try, just for one day, to show our chosen loved ones that we really do care. Today is more than that for the Fledgling Flyer, as today is also my fifth wedding anniversary, and instead of spending the day with Cathy, I am writing this from the crew lounge at DTW, getting ready to start another three day trip, my first since being signed off as having completed Initial Operating Experience (IOE). In other words, my first flights as a true First Officer pilot, not as a trainee. This blog is supposed to chronicle my experiences as a pilot, but today the readers will have to oblige me and read along as I chronicle the past five years with Cathy. You see, although I have had a few days off between flights, earlier in the week I was busy with Cathy over in the Detroit area trying to find a place to live, and for the past two days I’m been incredibly sick, so much so that this trip was in question. So, like so many other men (and a few women I’m sure), I find myself on Valentine’s Day, and my fifth wedding anniversary, without a card to present my Love. Naturally I could try to find something in the terminal this morning, but what better way to show my true feelings that to post them. So, here goes.
Cathy is literally everything to me. She came into my life when I was not looking, yet it was so obvious that she was the “right one” the minute I met her. Funny, bold, brash, confident, and very, very pretty. We met at a party at her brother’s house in Red Deer Alberta, and since that first meeting on April 30, 2001, we’ve never been far apart. When we met, I was working in Red Deer, and Cathy worked and lived in Moncton New Brunswick. Shortly after meeting we were both offered employment in Calgary, so we both shucked our existing lives and moved to Calgary together. That pretty much describes our lives since then; make a plan, discuss it together, and then jump in with both feet.
After we moved to Calgary together and established successful careers, I started making noise about us getting married. At first Cathy was not so sure, but eventually she wore down and agreed. We were sitting on the top of Sunshine Mountain in Banff Alberta when we made the decision to marry there in the future. Because of the logistics of getting non-skiing guest and supplies to the top of a mountain, we eventually settled for a beautiful ceremony in our living room, with my Mom, Jamie and Brandon, Cathy’s Mom, sister Bonney and brother Randy all present. It was a special day, five wonderful years ago today, and neither of us would change a thing about that day, except maybe that it would have been nice if one of the dogs had not crapped on the kitchen floor where the Reverend Chase would not have stepped in it. Oh well, memories….
Speaking of dogs, Cathy is never far separated from our canine companion. When Cathy and I met, she owned Goldie, a Pomeranian with a bit of a “you are merely human, so bow to me” attitude. Goldie and I became friends, and we were horribly shocked when she died at a very young 7 years of age. Next came Ginger, another Pom with a bit of rough and tumble Tom Boy attitude. As if you doubted lighting could strike twice, cancer took little Ginger from us when she was only five. Today we’re blessed with Nikki, who is uniquely highbred between Goldie and Ginger. Nikki has many of the same markings and characteristics as Ginger, and in fact was born on the very day that Ginger passed. Reincarnation? Can’t say. Blessing to us? Absolutely. This entire doggy paragraph is to simply say that to know Cathy, and to love Cathy, is to accept the fact that regardless of our relationship and love, I will always be second in line for affection behind our furry daughter. Cathy’s love and empathy of animals is one of her endearing core values which will never change.
Did I mention that Cathy is everything to me? In the five years we’ve been married and eight since we’ve met, she truly has become my best friend, advisor, mentor, support, and when needed, the one who snaps me back to reality when even I dream too much (Dear, do we REALLY need a leather interior and glass instruments in a 54-year old Bonanza?). Cathy openly accepted my desire to return to the US and help with AutoMARK. She endured the hassles of becoming a US Permanent Resident, moved away from her native Canada, and followed me to a new start. What truer measure of love and devotion can there be? Again, when I decided to take a shot at becoming an airline pilot, she accepted my dream and helped get me here. When this dream is complete, and the next chapter in our lives presents itself, Cathy will be there to help plan and make it happen.
So, with all of this said, there is simply no Hallmark card I could find that will say what needs to be said. Cathy, I would not be who I am today without your love and support, so thank you. Life would not be nearly as much fun without you and Nikki to make me laugh, sometimes to the point of tears. Our relationship would not be what it is today if we did not occasionally step on one another’s toes and ruffle a few feathers, but that is what a growing relationship is all about. Thank you for all of the thing both big and small you have done for me, and for everyone else who's life you have touched.
Babe, we’ve come a long way and had a lot of fun in five years, and I can’t wait to see what the next five bring us. We are blessed with health and are wealthy in friendship, and I look forward to growing to old age with you by my side (which, the way I feel today, is not all that far off!). To all of my readers, thanks for your friendship and for your allowing me the opportunity to say “Happy Valentines Day” and “Happy Anniversary” to Cathy. My next post will discuss my line adventures, but for today, nothing is more important than publicly letting Cathy know how much I love her.
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