Dad found an incredible life partner in Mom.
Whether it’s managing his entire work schedule, returning items to Walmart that he won’t return, making sure holidays stay special, being a social buffer, or an ear during hard times, she has been a rock. Mom is selfless, and will sacrifice countless time and energy for her loved ones. “Our park bench awaits” is engraved on the inside of their wedding ring, a quote from “Notting Hill.” These are some of her favorite memories of dad.
It all started on the Surgical Intensive Care unit at the University of Utah.
Nick was hired 3 months before me in December of 1989. I was the dietitian and he was the pharmacist for the unit. We were friends and co-workers first. We did have one thing in common -- Al-Anon. We were both struggling to keep our marriages afloat.
Nick saved me quite a few times when I came into work late after a horrible night and he would give me all the patient information I needed to make it through rounds (and me not look like a fool!). He was always kind, wicked smart, and would juggle food in the break room to entertain everyone. He gave me lots of articles on nutrition to help in my SICU practice. (Ask him if I read them! haha)
When I finally decided to leave the hospital after a few years, I asked him if he would write a letter of recommendation for me. He did (but later said he wanted to give me a bad one so that I would not get the job and leave!). After I left, we stayed in contact. He had gotten a divorce and I had as well.
We started doing "friend" things like movies or plays or dinner (in my eyes, those were not dates or so I thought!). One time, he asked me to go on a picnic, and I said no, because that felt like a "date" type of thing! (??What was I thinking??)
After a while, he sat me down and said that he was really starting to like me and that if I didn't feel the same, he needed to go the other way. I felt like I didn't say "No" specifically when he asked, but didn’t say "yes" either! He obviously felt I did say no and decided to end things. He stopped calling and communicating.
After a week or two, I tried to call, but he didn’t return my messages. I was coming to the realization that I missed him—it is true that absence makes the heart grow fonder and his ultimatum helped! Finally, I left a message saying "CALL ME BACK!" He did. I told him we had to talk EVERY day from now on. And the rest is history!
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"Boo-gle", "Boggle", "Bow-gle"...! Nick can never figure out how to say it! (Though Bogle is one of his favorite wines!)
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Nick will find a corner in the house to scratch an itch on his back, just like Baloo in Jungle Book!
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Nick to Lynn after I put on my asian-looking bathrobe - "Oh, are you wearing your kimodo?" (Kimono?? Haha)
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Nick absolutely loved this Vietnamese lady that we met on our bike ride through a small village on our trip. We bought some bananas from her. He felt so tall standing next to her!
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I used to love taking artsy photos of Nick and I. He's holding up the "I love you" in sign language.
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Is there anything Nick can't fix? I am so lucky to have him around. He is a lot like my father, who was also a handyman! Thanks honey!
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Sometimes Nick writes notes on my newspaper in the morning. Since I am not usually up by the time he heads to work, it is his way of saying "I'm thinking of you!" What a sweet gesture!
