What is the luckiest thing that ever happened to you? Mine is meeting my husband.

[debm55]

[MLAA]

1. Ditto for me. I tell him frequently that he is the best thing to ever happen to me 🙂

[Xavier Breath]

18. Um...this is a little awkward.

How exactly did you meet Debm55's husband?

[MLAA]

28. You just made me spit out my gingerale!

My lips are locked I’m not telling how I met him!

[debm55]

32. What!!!!------------

[Stuart G]

77. Luckiest thing is I am healthy & alive (I have had many major medical problems) & I can climb up ..

up the stairs easily.

[debm55]

79. Stuart, i am sorry to hear of your medical problems. Yes, you are lucky and a strong man to over

come those problems. I am at the point now where I find it difficult to walk.

[Tikki]

84. Also, here...59 years ago.

My in-laws were the very best and raised a fine man.

How did this fatherless girl know what to look for in a young man.

I was either smart or lucky or both.

Tikki

[barbaraann]

2. Someone told me to take the National Merit Scholarship test.

I don't remember who that was. It only took three hours and basically gave me a college education that I otherwise would not have been able to afford in the Sixties.

No one told my husband to take the test and I'm sure he would have done better than I did.

[unc70]

29. I am also a National Merit Scholar

Certainly one of the luckiest events in my life. There are a couple of other things similar importance.

[barbaraann]

30. OK, I'll be honest. I was a sponsored scholar.

But I got the full $6.000.00 for four years due to my family's income and that went a long way in the middle Sixties. I even got to spend one year of the scholarship in Europe.

We were indeed lucky!

[unc70]

31. Yes, very lucky. Only about 2,000 total nationwide my year

I seem to remember there were like 43(?) of us total from NC in 1966. I still have the various paperwork. Was looking at it a few months ago.

Whether the scholarship was sponsored or not, you were still a National Merit Scholar.

[barbaraann]

41. I think I remember only 2-3 other students taking the test with me.

Strange. It was a pretty big high school.

[debm55]

33. you were very lucky to receive such an honor, My girlfriend got the National Merit Scholarship

for Ohio State. She went on to become a surgeon.

[barbaraann]

40. Wow! Impressive!

I know how much work that takes.

[CountAllVotes]

3. I met my husband on St. Patrick's Day in 1978

We met that day and we were together until he died in May 2022.

[debm55]

10. CountAllVotes. I am so glad you were lucky to spend your journey with the man you loved so dearly.

[CountAllVotes]

13. Its killing me today

He was from Ireland and I loved him so!

[debm55]

15. Your love for each other will continue to go on. My friend, I feel for you. He will always be

with you in your heart and the memories of him will be his blessing to you. Have a good cry,and lay down. Love, debbie

[CountAllVotes]

16. Good idea

I'm awfully tired.

I think I'll go back to bed.

I haven't been able to eat I am so upset.

[debm55]

17. Go n-eiri an bothar leat May the road rise up to meet you

I posted something for you in a separate thread.

[debm55]

19. I posted the Irish Blessing for you

[CountAllVotes]

42. Thank you

You are so very kind.

Here's a song for you:

[debm55]

43. Thank you so much. It brought tears to my eyes. About 15 years ago, we took a 2 week tour of Ireland

I remember the statues of the famine victums in the street. I can't remember if it was Dublin. Such a beautiful place. I hope you are feeling a little better. Love, debbie

[CountAllVotes]

52. Most welcome

My family came to this country during the Great Famine. They arrived in New York and sailed around the Cape Horn to San Francisco.

I have a few cousins still living there today but most of my direct family is gone.

My husband was not a famine immigrant however, he came to the USA in the late 1950's, the year I was born in fact. He was 20 years old than I am.

I'm glad you like that song. I just love it too! Just a beautiful piece of music!

Take care Debbie and yes, I am feeling a bit better today. I got ten hours of sleep last night as I was exhausted!

Susie

[Midnight Writer]

4. The invention of new anti-biotics. I would have died as a child if not for a new anti-biotic.

It was administered to me within a year of its approval, after other anti-biotics did not work. If I had gotten sick a year earlier...

[debm55]

9. Midnight, yes you are very lucky to be here and I am glad they worked,

[CrispyQ]

5. Clearing the railroad tracks at 80 MPH by seconds when I was 17.

I became a responsible driver after that.

[debm55]

7. Had that happen to me as I was already late for work. I went around the things that come down for

approaching trains and floored it. Got to other side and just let out a sigh of relief. I was lucky but stupid as hell.

[yardwork]

61. I lost several friends that way. I'm grateful you were lucky!

[Bluethroughu]

6. I met my husband.

We are best friends.

[debm55]

12. Bluethroughu, so glad you are lucky to have met your husband and that you best friends.

[Bluethroughu]

49. I know you understand.

[patricia92243]

8. Definitely second Hubby. n/t

[debm55]

34. Lucky you!-------to find someone to love on your life's journey.

[IA8IT]

11. Same. She asked me out. When asked if I'll get married again I say nobody is that lucky twice.

[debm55]

35. Wow, you are lucky!

[Faux pas]

14. ...

When I didn't die when I got lost in a blizzard

[Niagara]

23. We're extremely happy that you're still with us, Faux pas

[Faux pas]

50. Thank you!

I forgot to say I was in the Sierra Nevada's!

[debm55]

36. How did you get out of it? Did you find a home or deserted place to stay?

[Faux pas]

51. ...

I got lucky and a snow plow came from out of nowhere and I followed him to Tahoe. That was not my destination but it was better than being in the middle of nowhere.

[Elessar Zappa]

20. I was dying of cystic fibrosis.

I had about 3-6 months left. At that time a miracle drug was approved by the FDA. I started taking it and I went from being bedridden with 5 liters of oxygen on all the time to an active person with good lung function and a possible normal lifespan. I thank my lucky stars every day that the medicine came out when it did.

[Niagara]

24. We're extremely happy that you're still with us, Elessar Zappa

[Elessar Zappa]

27. Thank you, I'm glad to be here!

[debm55]

37. I remember when I was very young, my parents that I had itI had a salty taste to my skin and all

the other symptom. Medical tests proved negative. You are very lucky that with research and medicine, that it is no longer that death sentence it once was. I am so happy for you, Elessar.

[Elessar Zappa]

54. Yes, salty skin

is one of the indicators of CF. I’m glad you tested negative!

[CountAllVotes]

53. +1

n/t

[highplainsdem]

55. Thank God that medicine was developed then! That's the

sort of medical miracle I keep hoping for, for everyone suffering from incurable/untreatable diseases (like ALS; I've been posting messages about Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans fighting that; I lost a friend to ALS twenty years ago).

I'm so glad that drug you took brought recovery, too, instead of just stopping the progression of the disease.

[sakabatou]

21. I have two:

1. Meeting my girlfriend
2. Surviving a brain infection

[Niagara]

25. We're extremely happy that you survived a brain infection, sakabatou

[debm55]

38. sakabatou, you are one lucky person. A brain infection can life ending-but you survived. And

meeting your girlfriend to continue your journey in this world is wonderful.

[sakabatou]

44. Yeah, the doctors were unsure if I'd make it.

And as for my girlfriend and I, we're celebrating our 16-year anniversary.

[Niagara]

22. I have a few.

1. I was raised in a Democratic household. My mother was raised and was a R. She switched parties during the Reagan administration.


2. I'm still employed but have less hours, and that's okay. At least I don't come home with a flippin' headache everyday during and after work.


3. It's not mandated that I have to deal with jackasses.

[debm55]

39. Niagara, getting away from a job full of assholes for at least part of the time is great. I have

been their and dealt with it.

[Kali]

26. being born to more or less stable parents in the US

my Father was a bit of an egotistical dick and a high functioning alcoholic but he didn't beat my mother or run around or do anything unethical out in the world. we were solid middle class and never went hungry or wanted for anything we needed. my Mother was able to be a stay at home mom and kept a nice house. (my only gripe with her is never living up to her abilities in the house keeping realm )

[debm55]

65. Kali, alot of us were not so lucky in the parent realm. I was one. But you seem to be happy which is

a lucky thing to have. Housework is not one of my favorites as I look around here.
when my son was very young, my house was spotless. ---now not so much.

[highplainsdem]

45. People I've met. I've met some really great ones over the years, but even when they were

people I didn't get along with, or encountered for only a short time, I believe they all helped me in some way or taught me something, even if it wasn't a lesson I wanted at the time. People are infinitely interesting and valuable.

You're very lucky to have met the right man, and realized it. I turned down some proposals, since I was always sure marriage wouldn't work for me, and usually tried to get out of relationships if they looked too serious (some guys propose too fast) since my parents' nightmare marriage had left me convinced I did not want to get trapped. I've thought more and more over the years that I should have stayed with a guy I met one of the times I lived in NY.

We'd even met cute. I'd stopped at a bank branch to get some cash, back in the days when you had to write a check for that, but there was a line, and it was slow. Waited for a few minutes, started tapping my foot, finally stepped out of line and left. Was half a block away, walking fast, when a guy in his mid-20s (I was 22 then) caught up with me, having run out of the bank after me. Which could have been very alarming in NYC, but he was really cute. And he told me he'd wondered if the impatient-looking redhead would have enough patience for that line. He asked me to dinner, I accepted, and we were involved for a while before I decided this might turn out to be the trap I was avoiding, and told a relative I'd come help her with her business halfway across the country (and got involved with a friend of hers who was definitely not the right man, and left him).

I was just looking at the website belonging to the guy who followed me out of that bank. Don't know how much work he still does, but it describes how successful he was and awards he'd won. Cute pic of him there still, too. When I knew him he told me he was the most successful commercial photographer his age in NY, but I had no idea if that was true. He did like very expensive suits, which I thought was kind of funny because he was a free-spirited California boy, had loved surfing before he moved to NY. I remember walking along Fifth Avenue with him one day when he decided his new shoes were a pain, and took them off and walked barefoot wearing a thousand dollar suit ( which doesn't sound so expensive now, but this was the '70s), which I thought was cute and weird at the same time (I like weird, too). His website doesn't say anything about his personal life, but I hope he found the right woman and they've had a long, happy marriage. I admire (and envy) people who make marriages work. That is great luck. Which I never had. But I've been very lucky with some friendships, and I do like people in general.

[debm55]

62. My dear highplainsdem, my first boyfriend I had written about was my first taste of love. When he

told me he loved me. I laughed and said that he couldn't because I was unlovable. I wanted someone to love me , but I loved him so much I didn't want him to get hurt by my family. So in a way I sabotaged the relationship and ended it. He started to get abusive,also. You are lucky that you had friends and SO in your life. He was my first love and there will always be a place for him. Just like you have and will always have a place in your heart for your guy. Perhaps see if you could be friends on FB. I tried it, but for me it ended up with a case of pictures of my husband and son, alone in a restaurant in Pittsburgh. That I think is perhaps what is on your mind. The not knowing. You are a wonderful person. And you don't have closer. It's not like you want to have a SO relationship, but to check up on old times. Where are lives took us and are leading us. Give it a try. Not all people are ready to share themselves in a relationship. I met my husband at a library. How romantic is that!!! I wish you all the luck in the world my friend. Love, Debbie

[highplainsdem]

67. Debbie, that's horrible that your old boyfriend stood you up when you

wanted to get closure. But he would never have been good enough for you, anyway, since he was starting to get abusive when you were involved with him. You deserved better, which you got with the man you married, and I'm glad you found him.

I'm not going to try to contact Jay. I left him - that was my closure. He doesn't need any reminder of that after all these years. I was just feeling wistful after reading about the happy marriages some DUers have, and it was easy to wonder if that relationship would have worked long-term, and easy to click on his website. Not that there's much of it left. It used to have more pages, used to mention the Clio awards (for advertising) that he'd won, and now it's down to one main page ( just describing him as award-winning) with videos of some of his better-known commercials, which is why I'm not sure he's even working any more. And that photo, which brings back memories. The sunny smile I remember. Anyway, the website let me know he was successful, and I'm happy about that. And I do hope he had a happy long-term marriage. But he doesn't need to hear from me.

[debm55]

70. highplainsdem, married life has it's ups and downs. I'm sure if you ask anyone here they would

tell you that it is not 100% perfect. It can be close, but not all the time. I like your attitude. Mine was a mistake. I was more interested in what he did with his life. But you have friends and family. You are very knowledgeable on a variety of subjects and you are soft spoken. If the lucky man comes along, fine. If not, fine. You have alot going for you. You are lucky.

[highplainsdem]

73. Thanks, Debbie!

[LudwigPastorius]

46. I haven't been arrested.

...so far.



But seriously, I drank and drugged most of my 30s and 40s away, and it was only by dumb luck that I never got busted for DUI, disorderly conduct, possession, etc.

What a dumbass!

[debm55]

58. You were not just lucky but damn lucky you didn't hurt yourself or others. I was the same in my

Last edited Sat Mar 18, 2023, 11:30 PM - Edit history (1)

youth. Sometimes I felt I had a death wish. Yes I was damn lucky that I was hurt or killed. or did the same to others. We were lucky that our luck was their for us. I am glad you stopped. You are a strong, lucky man . continue with your hew ways.

[Scottie Mom]

47. Mine -- marrying that special man I met. EOM

[Scottie Mom]

63. I wish.

He died in my arms many years ago. I have never re-married because I will always be his wife.

[debm55]

74. Scottie Mom, I am so sorry. You do have the memories of your deep love for each other. May they be a

blessing to you.

[Scottie Mom]

81. It is a blessing and he is always with me.

Thank you for your kind words.

[DFW]

48. It was July 25th, 1974

I was 22, and spending most of the summer in what was then West Berlin. In a dark, smoky cabaret on the Bleibtreustrasse, I was chatting to a pretty, but excessively chatty girl from Münster. She told me that she was leaving for China the next day, but that I should meet her friend from "up north." By that, she meant the flat farm country of northwestern Germany.

I said, "sure, where is she?" She said, "right here." She leaned back, and I saw this tall, blonde, beautiful vision that took my breath away. I thought, "WOW!! I should indeed meet your friend from up north!" I knew from experience from school in the USA that a nerd like me NEVER had a chance with a woman like that. But she had never been to the USA, so SHE didn't know that women like her were supposed to blow off nerds like me. So, she didn't, and this coming July, we will celebrate 49 years since we met. She's still beautiful, and she hasn't blown me off yet.

There were a lot of other "things" in the meantime, of course. Near plane crashes, just missing getting blown up by terrorist attacks and/or other disasters, she beating cancer twice, me having a couple of cardiac near-misses. There were positive things, too, like our children being normal, intelligent, attractive, and as liberal as we are. But no event could have brought as much luck as that one July evening when her friend said, "you should meet my friend from up north."

[debm55]

59. DFW, what a terrific story. You and your wife are two lucky people to have each other.

[DFW]

72. I can only hope she feels half as lucky as I do

I posted this a little while ago to have supporting evidence:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17718685

[debm55]

80. DFW, you are very handsome and your wife is very beautiful. You can tell by the look in

both of your eyes that there is a deep attraction and love to each other. You both are very lucky.

[lucca18]

56. Getting a great job with a great company that led to meeting my husband.

I worked for Levi Strauss in San Francisco, where I met my future husband.

We were both from New York, and actually grew up about twenty minutes from each other.
We didn’t meet until we wound up both working for the same company in San Francisco.

I guess that was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me; or it was just meant to be!

[debm55]

60. lucca, it is a great story of your journey with your husband. I wish you two the best luck.

[Iggo]

64. A sperm and an egg, sometime in early '61.

[debm55]

66. I take it that the sperm and egg in early 1961 is you? ---

Lucky they met and you Iggo are the result!

[Iggo]

71. Egg-zack-lee.

[debm55]

76. That is funny,

[Demsrule86]

68. Mine too. My husband is a wonderful man.

He is also a great Dad and one of the kindest men I have ever known.

[debm55]

75. You sound like you found a terrific husband, dad and friend all in one.

[Demsrule86]

83. He is the best!

[lastlib]

78. Falling out of a second-story hay-barn window, landing on my head.....

Not quite 6 yrs old. I was up there looking at all the hay my dad and grandfather had just hauled in, when a rat scurried across a stack. It scared me, I ran to the window that my grandfather was closing off with the wooden hatch and pushed it open (whacked my grandfather on the head with it). Fell out the window, and landed on the hay trailer on my head and arm. My arm broke, head wasn't even scratched. Mom saw me fall, ran over and picked me up, loaded me into the car and drove me to the doctor. The break wasn't actually too serious, but had my arm in a cast for a couple months. I honestly don't know how I got off so lucky without much more serious injuries.

[debm55]

82. You are indeed lucky lastlib. I was afraid I was going to read some major, serious medical problem.

I am so grateful that you didn't have more serious injuries.

[mvd]

85. Lucky to have a great mom and great dad and wonderful maternal grandparents

My dad and maternal grandparents are no longer alive but very lucky to have had them and have my mom.

[Emile]

86. I won a Rawlings Mickey Mantle baseball glove at the

drive-in movie theater in 1960. I still have it too.