First Anniversary...

35 years ago I became Mrs. Ricky Lee McCoy. 
Rick was never much on holidays. Always felt like they were way too commercialized. Always said that we should get back to the basics of being thankful and loving one another every day - not just on holidays. 
But for OUR day ... our wedding anniversary, he always made a big thing out of it, for me. He has taken off work for the day ... he even took off a whole week once as a surprise to me. He took me to the zoo one year and we were just kids for the day - so much fun, we laughed until we hurt! He drove me up thru the mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas one year, and thru the mountains of Oregon another year, thru the mountains of Idaho yet another year. We have stayed at home and just curled up and snuggled together watching movies. Spent the day one year celebrating with the RV park that we were staying in, had a big picnic. A long motorcycle ride one year. A car drive the next. A trip to the lake on occasion. He took me to many museums on our day. There were times that we didn't have the money to go anywhere, and he would cook me a wonderful meal. One year, we didn't have the money for even that - it was a cold bologna sandwich, but made with hands of love and lots of laughter. Our favorite place to go eat on this day of ours was to Red Lobster - and as many years as possible, that is where we were found. 
Last year, our last year - he took me to a Red Lobster and a Sweet Frog Yogurt Shop. Bought me a precious stuffed frog at the Yogurt Shop. We laughed - but I was, and am, so proud of that silly frog. 

It never was about where we went, or even what we did. He has gotten me roses ... and jewelry ... taken me out to eat ... seen a movie. But whatever we did or didn't do, wherever we went, or didn't go - it was always about him making a "big to do" over the day - OUR day. Sometimes there were gifts, sometimes cards. And then, one year - he hid post it notes all over the house, and I found the last of them a week or so later! (Still have them, and they are even more precious to me.)

I miss him ... always, but I miss him today. I miss wondering what he would think of to do ... wondering what surprise waited for me in the next moment. I miss his kisses ... his hugs ... I miss him tickling me until I begged him to stop. I miss laying my head on his chest and listening to him breathe, feeling his heart beat against my face. I miss the way he smelled - that unique smell that was all Ricky Lee McCoy. I miss reaching up and touching his face - saying, "Ricky Lee, do you know how fine  you are to me?" And I miss hearing his voice saying back to me - "And you to me!" 

I am not sure if I will ever be able to watch Rob Roy again ... that was OUR movie. Our movie that we watched on OUR day - ever year since it came out. I don't remember one anniversary since it came out that we did not watch it. 

O Rick, my Sweetheart, my Soul-mate, the love of my life, my heart. I miss you today. I missed you yesterday. And I will miss you tomorrow. But today ... oh today ... I miss you!!!!! 
I love you. 

Thank you Rick for all the years that you gave to me ... for all the memories ... for all the lov you held me with. I LOVE YOU. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Sweetheart. I love you. 

--your woman, your wife ... honored and humbled ... 
Meg ... Mrs. Rick McCoy