How did your love story begin?

We dated in high school. Right after high school, he joined the Navy and was leaving to serve our country. Before he left, he proposed. I said no because I believed us too young and wouldn't survive a long distance relationship. We stayed in touch, writing letters to each other. He has always been my best friend. He has proposed 6 times over the 30+ years, me always saying "no" for some reason that made sense to me. On the 7th he said, "I'm not asking, I'm telling . . . you've abused the no".

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

I think my favorite memory of us as a couple has always been how my mom has responded to use over the years. Once, when I was visiting back home, Jim came over to visit for a few minutes, just to say "hi". He was in his Austin PD uniform at the time. When he was leaving, my mom said, "Ooooh, he looks good, huh?!" (which he did). Many years later, after he proposed that final time, when we told my mom, she just said "Well, it's about damn time!" That was the theme of our wedding, 'Bout Damn Time!

What would you do with $20,000?

We would put away half (as retirement isn't as far away as we wish it was), give some to both of the kids to finish college and then finally take a long overdue honeymoon (as we never really had one). Honestly, just being together makes us happy and fulfilled. We have wanted to travel together, but never found the money to follow through. Being a retired Marine, he's seen so much of the world, where I have not. To be able to share that with him is a dream for us both.