Today is Danny’s 36 birthday! Happy birthday my love! We met at a New Year’s Eve Y2K party for which the favors were flashlights I especially remember meeting Daniel because about ten days prior a good friend had said out of the blue and said “Martha, someday you are going to marry Danny Bishop!” I replied with a “Huh, that was kind of random.” But the name stuck in my head so when I was introduced to a Daniel Bishop at the Y2K party, I took note. Yes he was cute! We didn’t begin chatting online for a few more months. But once we did, AOL IMs flew fast and furious. It was a nice way to get to know someone and crushes quickly developed. I was going to school in Flagstaff while Danny was working in Tucson. One night I was upset about something and Danny asked for my phone number and I would not give it to him! I wasn’t intentionally playing hard to get. I just didn’t want our first phone call to be me crying. Daniel was exasperated but patient. A theme for the years to come! We went on our first date (my first date ever!) while I was home for Easter break. We officially began dating/courting/serious (you might have been youth in the evangelical church in the late 90’s if you followed the courtship guidelines of “I Kissed Dating Goodbye“) On June 5, 2000, We had our DTR (define the relationship- another late 90’s youth group phrase) and decided to begin dating with the intention that we were looking at each other as a potential spouse. Oh how serious we were! We got engaged in November of 2000. And our wedding was June 2, 2001. We were babies. I was 21, Danny was 23. But, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Daniel is my rock, I still have a major crush on him (He looks like Matt Damon! Yum!) He is eternally patient with me, even when I blab at him for hours or don’t live up to domestic standards my name implies. He is THE hands down smartest person I know and is not only talented intellectually, as a web designer, writer, artist and in a million other ways at work and home; he is socially brilliant as well. Smart and kind and I haven’t yet met a person who doesn’t adore him. (Back off ladies, he’s MINE!) He adores our children and the best and most selfless Dad I know (and I am picky-I have a phenomenal Dad.)
In addition to today being his birthday, November is Care Giver awareness month in the cancer world. From Sept 17, 2009 when I asked Danny to come home and hug me because the dermatologist had called and said my mole was malignant melanoma and none of us (Danny, the dermatologist nor I) knew what that meant except that it was scary, to sitting with me though hellish weeks in the hospital getting no sleep, to playing bad cop when people aren’t looking out for my best. Our marriage and this cancer journey have been quite a ride and Danny has NEVER backed down or taken a break from the unwavering support he has given me. I am SO blessed and lucky to have him walking this journey with me.
Daniel, my words fail me. You are my favorite and I say yes every second of every minute of every day for the rest of our long lives. I pray you are overwhelmed with love today as we celebrate you.
Yes everyday. I love you. Happy burpday!