You might be wondering why I call
the man in my life
THE LIFEGUARD
especially when
he can't even swim!
In fact, a cutie-pa-tootie,
real, live, licensed
lifeguard
asked me that
very question
a few weeks ago.
Well, if you were hangin' around my life in 1989
you know the situation I was in before
Jeffrey Keel Hutchins
rode in on his white horse.
But we won't get into that story
as I've left it right were I dropped it,
back there in 1989.
We'll just jump right into the story of how
the Lifeguard the came to be.
He was inviting me to join him
for the biggest event in town
The
Old Folks
Sociable
As we enjoyed the evening,
there was a lot of
starring and
pointing
in our direction.
However we were mostly unaware,
for that night was
the beginning of our...
Nine hours later, at the end of that first date
we both knew we'd found forever.
In one fell swoop,
that boy named Jeff
took my hand
and pulled me
out of a situation
I'd been stuck in
for far too long.
Since that day,
I've said it
a million times
and will say it
for eternity...
He saved me.
It was then, he forever, became
I tend to run faster
In fact, a cutie-pa-tootie,
real, live, licensed
lifeguard
asked me that
very question
a few weeks ago.
you know the situation I was in before
Jeffrey Keel Hutchins
rode in on his white horse.
But we won't get into that story
as I've left it right were I dropped it,
back there in 1989.
We'll just jump right into the story of how
the Lifeguard the came to be.
It was in that year, of 1989,
when I received a phone call from
a cute, 21 year old, red-headed boy
who went by the name of
JEFF
He was inviting me to join him
for the biggest event in town
The
Old Folks
Sociable
As we enjoyed the evening,
there was a lot of
starring and
pointing
in our direction.
However we were mostly unaware,
for that night was
the beginning of our...
In one fell swoop,
that boy named Jeff
took my hand
and pulled me
out of a situation
I'd been stuck in
for far too long.
Since that day,
I've said it
a million times
and will say it
for eternity...
He saved me.
It was then, he forever, became
The one who has saved me from much,
including FEAR.
As the wedding plans began,
it was fun and exciting
until...
a lump
was discovered.
Since there wasn't time
before the wedding
my surgery took place on our
One Month
Anniversary.
Before I was wheeled into
the operating room,
I was handed a paper to sign.
It gave permission for a
hysterectomy to be performed,
if it was deemed medically necessary.
My young 20 year old eyes
looked at the Lifeguard.
He nodded his head and
told me it was okay.
Then he slept next to me in
a cot for the next 5 days.
Since then, I've had
most of my organs removed.
(just kidding, but really kind of seriously)
He has never
left me alone in the hospital...
not one time...
not for one minute.
Ten years ago, I had one diagnosis that I thought would kill me.
The Lifeguard saved me from slipping into paralyzing fear.
------------------------------------------------------
GLOOM AND DOOM.
When I am sad because
my boys are growing up
he'll let me
dream about
grand-babies
and we both smile.
He says when they come
I can buy lots of
pink things
because our sons are sure
to ONLY have
girly-girls.
Then we laugh hysterically!
He was there as
each one of my
grandparents died.
He let me cry
as much as I wanted too.
He was there when
baby boy was born.
We cried
together.
------------------------------------------------------
has saved me from
FREEZING TO DEATH.
My temperature
varies from his, significantly.
So he bought a car
where I can control my
own heat
and where the seat can
light one's tush on fire.
He takes me away
when I'm too cold or
the weather is too yucky.
He will take me
wherever
the sunshine is.
He made sure our home had a
fireplace
and he doesn't care if I
leave it on all day,
even during July.
He doesn't even get mad
when it's blowing and
so is the air-conditioner.
However, he doesn't like
the space heater I have.
He's afraid it'll
burn the house down
but he never says so out loud,
very often.
And when I shuttered and
shivered
at the baseball field
he bought me a
portable heater.
He even carries it for me
and buys me lots of
propane.
A few of my brothers say
the Lifeguard is
a Saint
because he never
complains about my
flannel pajamas.
But I know, Saint or not, he really wishes
I'd come to bed without the socks.
------------------------------------------------------
has saved me from
MYSELF.
I tend to run faster
than I have strength
He helps me see
when that's happening
and helps me say no.
He knows I get uptight
watching the boys play ball
and suggested I keep
a scorebook
to distract me.
It worked.
I'm thinking a few dad's I sit next to
ought to take it up.
------------------------------------------------------
has saved me from
GUILT.
He accepts that
I hate to cook
and doesn't let me
feel bad about it
even though I curse
myself
all the time.
He supports me in my
addiction
to purchase gifts
years in advance
of when they'll be needed.
He doesn't care that
I like Facebook
and defends me
when people say
it's a sin.
He supports me in
my callings
even though my millions
of meetings take me
away from him.
He appreciates
the things
I feel passionate about
even though
they take
alot of time.
He loves the things
I love,
like the 6 guys
I grew up with
and all the
little people
that are attached to them.
He loves
the three
he grew up with
and all their
little people
and he shares
them with me.
He always has a
clear head
when mine gets all
foggy.
------------------------------------------------------
So see, it's actually quite simple how
Jeffrey Keel Hutchins
came to be...
He saved me just last night when
I fell asleep on the couch
He didn't leave me there.
He lead me to bed
and kissed me goodnight.
He likes to sleep with me.
When I first started
blogging,
I would stay up
all night to do it.
He bought me this laptop
so I would come to bed.
I'm in bed right now
with the laptop
and with him.
He's snoring
and kind of hogging the bed.
He does that.
I'm in flannel
and thinking that
I love the snorer
more today
than I did in 1989
after that
first date
AND...
I'm thinking where
I might be
if he hadn't come along
and
saved me.
I think about that alot and then
I count my blessings.
Number one...
always, ALWAYS being
