The traditional 40th anniversary gift is a ruby. I don’t particularly enjoy rubies. We went ziplining instead. But, that is another post for another time.

Forty years, folks, that’s how long it’s been. When I think about the years that have passed, I don’t really remember “not” being married; because at this point I have been married twice as long as I was single. And, essentially, all of my single years were spent in my childhood. I’ve never really been a single adult. If I think about it too long, it makes me feel old.

But, 40 years ago, at the ripe old age of 19, I wrote, “The Story of Cliff and Roxanne.” I found it and post it here for your enjoyment, I hope; because forty years is kind of a big deal!

The Story of Cliff and Roxanne

Once upon a time, a not so long time ago, there was born on January 15, 1954, in Brooklyn, NY, a boy named Cliff James Chin. In 1957, Cliff and his family moved to Florham Park, NJ where Cliff happily grew up playing army and squishing caterpillars. Now, Cliff and his family could have stayed in Brooklyn, but the Lord had other plans.

Then, once upon a time, an even sooner time ago, there was born on October 18, 1959 in Newark, NJ, a girl named Roxanne Teresa Sicurello. In 1966, Roxanne and her family eventually moved to Whippany, NJ where Roxanne happily grew up picking through people’s garbage and trying to join the Tomboy Club. Now, Roxanne and her family could have stayed in Newark, but the Lord had other plans.

As yet unbeknownst to one another, Cliff grew up and went to Ohio to college, and Roxanne finally reached puberty. Throughout this time, Cliff was studying and working and Roxanne was trying to change what she had finally reached. Now, Cliff could have stayed in Ohio studying and working, and Roxanne could still be exercising; but, obviously, the Lord had other plans. So, Cliff came home from Ohio and eventually took charge of the youth group to which Roxanne belonged. And so they became “knownst” to one another, but neither of them cared. Cliff thought Roxanne was too young and flighty, and Roxanne thought Cliff was too serious and smart. Now Cliff could have continued not caring and thinking Roxanne was young and flighty; and Roxanne could have continued not caring and thinking Cliff was too serious and smart; but, the Lord had other plans.

Soon they began working together in the youth group, but they were still “just friends.” Cliff didn’t really want to get involved with Roxanne, after all she was so young; and Roxanne didn’t really want to get involved with Cliff, after all he was so serious. Now Cliff could have stayed uninvolved and serious, and Roxanne could have stayed uninvolved and young, but the Lord had other plans.

On October 18, 1978, Cliff took Roxanne out to dinner to celebrate her 19th birthday. They went to the Widow Brown and for all concerned it was their first real date. It was romantic to say the least. They both had the Wednesday Night Special, a seafood smorgasbord; and just to add a little something extra to the atmosphere, Roxanne got spaghetti sauce on the left lens of her glasses. The evening was a success. Cliff decided that maybe Roxanne wasn’t so young and Roxanne decided that maybe Cliff wasn’t so serious. Thus, the Lord’s plan was revealed.

One thing led to another and by the time New Year’s Eve came along, Cliff and Roxanne were talking about marriage, to each other, of course. Then on February 9, 1979, Cliff and Roxanne went out for dinner for no particular reason, or so Roxanne thought. They went back to the Widow Brown and had lobsters. They finished eating and went back to Cliff’s house where Roxanne supposed she would get her Valentine’s day gift and go home. But Cliff had other plans.

When they got to Cliff’s house, Cliff gave Roxanne her Valentine’s day gift and told her, in a very tender moment, that he wanted their relationship to be a real commitment to each other; to which Roxanne nonchalantly replied, “Okay.” Then Cliff asked Roxanne if she would marry him, to which Roxanne, no longer nonchalant, did not merely reply “okay,” but gave a full-fledged, “YES!”

So, on September 22, 1979, Cliff James Chin, the caterpillar squisher from Brooklyn and Roxanne Teresa Sicurello, the garbage picker from Newark, will be (were) joined in marriage before their Lord, who they both feel, makes fantastic plans.

So here’s to forty years, I could never imagine them with anyone else. Thank you, my love, for the absolute BEST years of my life…You are a very big deal!