How I Met My Beautiful Wife...

I met Susan on June 27th 1976, at my friend Pokey’s 21st birthday party. Susan had just finished her junior year of high school, and I was two years out.  

A few days before the party, a guy I knew told me Susan liked me, and I couldn’t believe it. She was gorgeous. I had just returned from Florida where me and Moose partied our asses off for five months. I had no goals other than to keep the party going. I wasn't much of a catch.

Because I knew she liked me, I had enough confidence to walk over and start talking to her. Otherwise, I might not've. After a little chit-chat, I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride on my motorcycle. She surprised me when she said she did.  

I remember exactly how she looked that night: dark tan, perfect shoulder-length brown hair, skin-tight hip-hugger jeans, tank top, and leather sandals. I couldn’t believe she was willing to get on my bike…  

I always carried a spare helmet back then just for moments like that, and I handed it to her, thinking she knew how to put it on. She put it on backwards! I helped her get it on right, snugged up the D-ring, both of us laughing the entire time.  

I told her to hold on to me, but she was reluctant. The bike had 3” extended front forks and a fat tire on the back, and with a passenger, all I had to do was pull a little throttle, and the front end would come off the ground. When I did it, Susan instinctively wrapped her arms around my waist and held on. When the front wheel was back on the ground, she pulled her arms back.

So I pulled some more throttle and popped the front end off the ground again. She wrapped her arms around me, but this time, I told her she had to keep holding on, "The bike could wheelie at any moment, and I don’t want you falling off the back!" She held on tight… 

Back then, I loved riding at night, and I took Susan for a cruise around Lake Massapoag in Sharon. There was a full moon and plenty of stars, and the reflection on the water was breathtaking. My carburetored motorcycle always ran so well in the cool night air. Everything was perfect. 

By the time we got back to the party, I knew I wanted to see her again. I told her I was selling the motorcycle and buying a car, and wanted to take her out on a real date. She gave me the most beautiful smile I had ever seen and said she’d like that.  

I was still living in Needham, in my Uncle’s basement, but I was just days away from moving into my buddy’s basement in Sharon, just a few miles from Susan’s house.  

I drove down Route 128 that night with a huge smile on my face the entire ride home. I probably ate more bugs on that ride than I ever had, but I didn’t care. 

I was in love with Susan; she was all I could think about…                                                                                                         

One of our favorites…

"Well, I've been 'fraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you" 

To be continued…