The Colorado State Open Thread is open for thoughts, opinions, ideas and stories from all those with any interest or not in our great state of Colorado.
The following is a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. And yes, I do understand that there could be many topics for this diary today — the tragedy that unfolded in Highland Park, Illinois today, which directly touched one of my neighbors who knew four people hurt at the parade, the results of the election last week that has hopefully ended the saga of Tina Peters for Secretary of State, but unfortunately did not end Lauren Boebert for Congress, the celebration of the United States of America, all blue, red and rainbow colored, the accomplishments of our country in this century as well as the two and a half that have preceded this one, or even just a sequence of pretty pictures celebrating our beautiful country.
I decided to relate this story because it is personal to me, it has nothing to do with current events and again, I am loathe to rag on politicians who have been betraying their oaths of office.
Way back in 2008, I was watching television with my girlfriend and we were watching the Jaws marathon. It was Independence Day and I was thinking that I should come up with a clever idea for an actual proposal of marriage for her. She had been married twice before and I had never done the deed, so I wanted to come up with something original, yet something that would yield the desired result of a “yes”. I did not have a ring to propose with, as she has been particular about her jewelry and I knew she would want to choose her ring rather than have me guess what would work.
As the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight and the special day was slipping away, my plan needed to be put into action. I turned to my sweetheart and I asked her if she would be interested in ending her Independence from me. In my mind, I was thinking that her ending her Independence would lead to her becoming tied to me. She, OTOH, thought that I meant that I was interested in breaking up with her — that she would be gaining her Independence rather than ending her Independence. That mistake in understanding had to be cleared up quickly and I did so, but the magic moment was forever spoiled with my clumsy effort.
Her dog, Jack, a Bichon who I had befriended and was the only man he would trust (he had been beaten and brutalized when he was a puppy by some boys) was on the couch between us, leaning against her. She asked him what he thought of the idea of marriage. He stood up, walked a couple steps, and lay down against me, giving me his endorsement. After that, we went into the kitchen and my two Basset hounds greeted us. I told them that I had asked her (without saying just what I asked her), and both of them, who had been looking at me, swung their heads around to see what her answer had been. She assured them that she had said “yes.” From their understanding that night, I will never doubt that dogs can understand human language when it’s important enough for them to do so. Her cat, however, didn’t care and didn’t bother to give or withhold his endorsement of the marriage; it didn’t make much difference to him.
After thirteen years of marriage, we are still together. We still both celebrate watching the movie Jaws, even though it’s a rather unusual proposal. And Independence Day is always a special day for us, even beyond the traditional birthday of America that most people celebrate.
Now, please feel free to add whatever comments you’d like down below. I’ll be on later after watching a fireworks show, if it comes off — we may have thunderstorms. The floor is yours...