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| Mario 2008 - On our Sudan Trip |
Today is Mario’s Birthday.
By some incredible grace that God had for
me (still unexplained and incredibly undeserved) Mario married me on December
29, 1987. He was way out of my league. He stood
six foot-two, solid muscle and had a tanned, boyish face that was unusually
handsome, like a movie star. Since he
had grown up skinny and funny-looking, he didn't have a big ego attached to his
outward appearance and it made him even more attractive.
For some reason, he adored me. I would catch him looking at me while I was
telling a story and his eyes would be starry and transfixed. No other guy ever looked at me like
that.
I met him at the Inaugural Ball of the Lieutenant
Governor of California in 1982. My
friend, Lisa Beutler and I were working the reception area, welcoming guests to
the grand affair held at the California Railroad Museum. The built in “security detail” were State
Park Rangers, an elite group to which Lisa belonged. I was convinced that she had arranged it all.
Afterwards, we all went out to dinner and I
sat out most of the conversation while they all discussed Law Enforcement and
Union business. I was convinced I had no
life because I was nineteen and I worked with old people. My new social network was cops who were old
and boring. Lisa was 30– Mario, 27.
Years later (when I was 23) I applied for a
job at a State Park where Mario was the supervising ranger. I was hired while he was away as a lowly
Park-Aid, smiling and welcoming visitors, taking fees and explaining the rules
to all who entered. Mario returned from
his trip and informed me that I was hired illegally – I literally pleaded for
my job. Later that day, he secured it,
taking pity on me as a single mother. I
found out later that he was recently divorced and was also a single
father. We began to share stories and experiences
at work.
Before long, we were connecting on many
levels. He was fun to work for, gave me
clear direction and appreciated my work.
I trusted him as a friend and a boss; valued his advice, and sought it
regularly. One night after work; after a
long discussion about parenting, our deep dreams and the not-too- distant-future,
we parted ways. Mario asked if he could
give me a hug goodbye.
I froze.
I was sure that a hug with Mario would not
be a simple thing. I was frightened of
igniting something, but before I could say no, he was already walking toward
me. Our embrace was supernaturally
beautiful.
As soon as I laid my head against his
chest, I was home. His arms went around me and we fit perfectly together. It was as if heaven opened and doves came
down, bringing the songs of angels and blessings from God. In the dead of night I felt warm and safe and
all lit up inside.
Our hug lasted for about three
minutes.
As soon as we released each other, I knew
he was mine. I knew I was his. It was perfect.
That hug was twenty-seven years ago.
We spoke vows to each other the following
December, where I promised to value him and love him all the days of my
life. Mario’s vows were written
himself, passionate and bold and spoken with tears that made me look shyly down
at the rings we just exchanged. I read
them over and over again later. How
could this man feel this way about me?
Even greater than the vows that Mario wrote
and spoke to me at that altar twenty six years ago are his daily decisions to
be who he is. He has decided everyday to
be faithful to me; to love me and be thankful for me. He has been a sensitive and protective
father, a loyal friend and a genuine man of God. He keeps his word, is kind to strangers and keeps
cool under pressure. Because he is a
gentle giant, I call him my tender warrior.
Shortly after we started dating, my mother
told him to beware of my laugh. She
warned him not to say anything too funny of he didn’t want to be embarrassed in
public.
“Embarrassed?” Mario asked her,
incredulously. “Janet’s laugh is LIFE!” I watched him say this and realized he meant
it. He wasn’t trying to rack up points;
he genuinely loved my laugh. He
genuinely loved me for me.
Today is his birthday.
I don’t know why God gave him to me. I really don’t deserve to be this happy in
marriage. He is a stunning specimen of
a man, a genuine and honest friend to me with the tenderest heart toward God.
I don’t know many people like Mario; the world
needs more of them.
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