Life was good back in 1965, thats when I met a young girl who lived several doors away from me and eventually got together and dated and enjoyed going to the shore or movies or walking several miles just to buy a 45 RPM record.
The war in Vietnam was well underway and the draft was in effect so we all knew after graduation, we would be called up to go over there.
I entered the Marines in 1968 and after basic training came home for leave and thats when I asked her to marry me and so we got engaged.
During my tour, I was shot in the neck which left me totally parralized from the chest down and the doctors advised me that I would not get much return back and of course no chance of haveing children.
While in the hospital I had allot to think over and I felt that any chance of marrage was now non existant and it wouldn't be fair to have her tied down to a man that couldn't get around.
After getting discharged from the military, I was transferred to a Spinal Cord Hospital and went through allot of physical therapy & pain stretching which helped me regain back some use of both my hands & legs.
This disability was a total new way of life for me and had to adjust my thinking that whatever I had wasan't going to get any better and thats the way the cards were handed out.
I was able to learn how to drive by useing hand controls and transferring into and out of the vehicle and I felt better knowing I can get around even in a wheelchair.
I traveled one day to go visit my girl at her home and she wanted to follow through with the marrage regardless of my disability and the thought of not haveing any children and so we did tie the knot back in 1970.
We were both tested in our marrage, things were different for her and for me and we had to learn from one another what our feelings were and how to deal with them.
With the help from special physicians and treatment, we were able to have three wonderful children and I was able to work on a daily basis for over 30 years or so.
We just celebrated our 38TH year being married and total of 43 years being together so if anyone who is in this same situation and thinks that they can't make a life together with the one they love, think again and go for it.
Like I said earlier, life throws things your way, it's up to you how you handle it.
I look forward to reaching our 50TH together.