How did your love story begin?

When we met I knew right away I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She lived on the block behind my house. I used to go through the hole in the fence and see her without her mom knowing, sometimes being there till late night. I even climbed up a tree behind her yard that led up to her window and sang to her. We attended the same middle and high schools together. I wrote a letter and gave it to her on our freshmen year in high school on getting married, having 2 kids.

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

When she said "I do" on November 3, 1984. we both cried and had a beautiful wedding. We both had our tough seasons, but we always found a way to come together as a young couple. No one gave us a chance, but with our love and strong faith, we did it and 42 years later we are more in love than when we first met. We could never afford any vacations, but it's okay. we understood that we both are more important.

What would you do with $20,000?

I will finally be able to take my love on the vacation and cruise that she well deserves. we both have worked so hard throughout our lives and never got the chance to just make time for us. I retired as a firefighter and she retired as a school security officer. A well deserved vacation will do us both good if the good Lord shall grant it to us. As a very young couple on our own where we are now, I could not have asked for a better way to spend my life with the one I Love.