Connect How did your love story begin?

I met my wife in the school nurse’s clinic ~ fitting, since we were both recovering from painful divorces. She announced, “I hate men.” I replied, “I hate women. We should compare notes.” That unlikely exchange began a journey filled with awkward moments, laughter, misunderstandings, and a few emotional bruises. What started as two wounded teachers trying to survive became a love story neither of us saw coming. Thirty years later, we're still writing it together.

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

Most of our best stories begin ordinary before taking a hard turn into complete chaos. There was the time Hurricane Harvey stranded us in rising floodwaters. Or the night we were driving home from our son's football game and found ourselves 200 miles from home at 2 am, sitting at a Love's Truck Stop, with two flat tires and Mar's elderly father, and no good options. In the end, we had to call and wake our oldest son and ask him to come rescue us. Somehow, our disasters become the best memories.

What would you do with $20,000?

It may not sound exciting, but at this stage of life, it feels meaningful. Some would be invested for our future, but a large part would help build our outreach program, Teachers Loving Teachers. After years in the classroom, we know how deeply teachers are struggling, and we want to give back. TLT is still in its early stages, but our heart is clear ~ to encourage, support, and remind teachers they are not alone.