Not just good

A couple of years ago, I participated in a group creative exercise where we were asked to completed the phrase, "A good man . . ."

". . . doesn't exist," said one participant.

". . . takes out the garbage and cuts the lawn," chimed in another.

A third, added the old adage, " . . . is hard to find."

My answer was, and still is, "A good man is at home."

Last year while I was off fighting cancer, a friend reminded me of this exercise and my response. It may sound cliche, but I do have a good man at home. I'm very lucky to have Michael in my life.

We met just over 17 years ago at a St. Joseph's Health Centre event. Unlike many of my friends who were already paired up, I was single at 26 years old. I'd been accused of being too picky and chastised for turning dates down when I wasn't interested in the individual asking. I'd just given up the idea of finding someone and decided to have a good time with my friends. As the saying goes, just when you least expect it . . .

The story is a little embarassing (to me), but I'll share the highlights anyway. That spring night, I'd been consuming some cold ones with some friends before a charity dance. When I met Michael, who arrived with a date, my immediate reaction was, "Wow!" Later on in the evening, the beers started talking and I told him I thought he was attractive.

The next morning, I kept berating myself for being so stupid, for being so forward, for drinking too much. Little did I know that when he went to family dinner that afternoon, he told his family he'd met someone. I guess I made an impresssion even in my off-kilter state.

We started dating two days after meeting and have been together ever since. In a couple of weeks, we'll celebrate 15 years of marriage. I guess waiting for Mr. Right instead of Mr. Right Now paid off for me.

Michael is incredibly supportive and loving. We've experienced our share of tribulations - Michael's ankle woes and surgeries, my difficult pregnancy, Noah's bipolar, ovarian cancer - but most of the time, they've made our relationship stronger.

Even when I broached going to Myrtle Beach with my sister, I didn't even get the words out of my mouth when he told me to go. He's a generous, kind individual and I can't even imagine my life without Michael.

I guess I knew with that first "wow" that I'd met my soul mate. I'm lucky enough to have not just a good man, but a great one at home with me.

Tina