So you guys had been dating less than a month before you got engaged? How did this happen?

M: We were cuddled up on the couch, talking about how crazy we were about each other. I said, "If you want to marry me, you have to do it fast, or I'll back out." And he said, "I accept!" He called his mother right then to announce it. So we had an engagement party, and as people were coming in, it was like, "Hey! Meet so-and-so! We're getting married!"

How did people respond?

D: I answered the door, and it was her sister. I introduced myself and said, "I guess I'll be your brother-in-law!" She just walked past me and said, "We'll see about that!"

M: My sister pulled me aside, and said, "I don't know this guy — how could you say you're going to marry him after two weeks? You just broke off another engagement." Then, your dad's sister said, "I want to talk to you, in the bedroom, alone." I went into the bedroom, and she sat down and said, "You've been a friend, but you are a flirt. If you break my brother's heart, I will kill you." No one wanted us to get married. They were all in shock. But the craziness of it didn't register for us. We just felt like we could make a life together.

So how was the wedding?

M: Since he was a student, and I had a pretty good job as the supervisor for the hospital's obstetrics department, I bought our rings and even his suit. I was crazy about him. But then I got cold feet. I tried to back out. Your Dad said, "My great-grandmother is traveling all the way from Ishpeming, Michigan! You are marrying me!" I just thought, "Okay, okay, I can do this." The day of the wedding, as I was getting ready, I poked my head out and saw my future father-in-law walk in, and I said, "Hey! I'm the bride!" He just said, "Yes, I gathered as much." But the wedding was great. It was a fun party. The next day, we drove straight to Florida and toasted champagne at the state line. We camped and went to Disney World and a topless beach, sort of by accident.

So, did your family start to come around after the wedding?

M: They still didn't know what to think. Everyone decided they were just going to watch and see what happened. I just thought, "Damnit, we know it's gonna work — why can't everyone see that?"

Going straight into marriage after such brief dating must have been intense.

D: That first year, we were really dropped into the marriage, without knowing each other's darker sides. Before we were married, we really hadn't fought. But we just trusted our instincts, and were able to work through whatever came up.

M: Now, being dropped into marriage, there were heavenly moments and there were storms. We've had hellacious fights. I know some other couples don't yell and get mad, but your dad and I quickly learned that that's how we both express ourselves. But we could accept that about each other. Just like we were so fiery and passionate in our love, we were fiery and passionate in our fights. We found that we could do that and still be okay. In a way, the fights are just as integral to our relationship, because they define us too.

And it doesn't seem like Dad is insecure about you being outgoing and flirty, unlike your past boyfriends.

M: Luckily, your dad doesn't have a jealous bone in this body, so we never fought about me being too flirty.

D: You are a flirt. But I know you're harmless!

And twenty-nine years later, you guys are still married.

Dad: Younger couples we know sometimes come up to us and say, "We want to be like you guys when we get older." It's because when we're out, we're engaged with each other, and it's genuine. The secret is making time for each other, whether it's a date, or swimming in the pool late at night, or dancing in your back room.

Sometimes, in high school, I would come home at midnight and you guys would be slow dancing in the living room. That wasn't a rare occurrence.

Mom: You want to marry a man who can dance. There's still always a night or two that he puts on some Motown and we dance in the living room. About a year ago, we were out dancing, and when I came off the dance floor, a friend came up and said, "I just love that when you two dance, you really look at each other." Those same moments of passion we had early on are still easily stirred for me. It's not constantly there, but when it is, it's just wonderful. It's so much better than the initial butterflies, because it has depth. 

I'm glad to hear you guys are still dancing. Do you have a song?

Mom: "Into the Mystic," by Van Morrison. Or maybe he would say "Crazy Love," by Van Morrison. Even back when we first met, those were our songs.

Dad: And we always dance to "Brown Eyed Girl," but I sing to your mom, "You're my blue-eyed girl," loud enough for everyone to hear.