Nineteen years ago in Germany...

It was the year 1992.  On a small Army base in Ludwisburg, Germany called Krabbenloch Kaserne.  The month was February and the grounds were covered with snow.  Rowe, known in the Army by her last name 'Lorenzo', was sitting on the window sill of her barracks room.  Although her window was wide open, she didn't feel cold.  Feeling melancholy instead, she was smoking a cigarette and listening to The Smiths.  Deep in thought, she looked down forlornly at some Army buddies meandering towards the mess hall for lunch.  "I just wish I knew where he'll be stationed," she pondered.  It had been a week since she last received a phone call from Abe, known in the Army by his last name 'Hernandez'.  And it had been two weeks since she received his last letter.  She imagined Abe was Morrissey singing to her as he once had, and she felt even more sad.  She glanced longingly at the picture she had of him the last night they went dancing...

Abe and Rowe fell in love while they were in Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  Rowe was in the class ahead of Abe's.  So when Rowe received orders to go to Germany, they said their goodbyes and promised to write often.  But they did not know when they would ever see each other again.  Rumors had been that Abe's class could be sent anywhere.  The couple hoped his orders would at least be in Germany...

"Lorenzo!" Rowe's buddy yelled from outside her barracks room, "I'm starving!  Let's go get some chow at the mess hall!"  Shaken back to reality from her thoughts, Rowe dragged herself off the window sill and trudged outside with her buddy.  Walking down the sidewalk, Rowe noticed a taxi dropping someone off in the distance.  A guy with a standard issue green duffel bag hopped out.  "Hey, doesn't that guy look like Hernandez?" she asked, nudging her buddy.  Rowe peered closer.  "It is Hernandez!"  Abe heard her call and turned.  As if in slow motion, he drops his duffel bag, and the two run towards one another.  Hugging, laughing and kissing, it was a joyful reunion of two soldiers in love...

That November 8th in 1992, we were married.  Nineteen years with my beloved Abe...and I love him now more than ever.  Our marriage could accurately be described as an adventurous motorcycle ride.  Magnificent and glorious, with sunny skies, bright sun and smooth roads.  But there have also been countless rocky patches, numerous thunderstorms, and we've nearly run each other off the highway many times.  But I would do the whole ride over again, as long as we're riding together.  Abe and Rowe, on His ride for at least another nineteen years, as the wheels are spinning...