A Life of Words

Kay Caryl Collier, a beautiful bride like no other before or since, and I joined hands and hearts forever 30 years ago today. We both managed to wait for each other until we’d made it to our 30s — she just barely, having turned 30 that June and I having turned 33 that February (we actually met in early 1993).

Kay chose the small but lovely First United Methodist Church in Mercedes, Texas, just 9 miles from the Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley, for us to say our vows like her parents Caryl and Shelley had been the first couple to do so in November 1958. We were surrounded with so much joy that perfect day and have spent three decades working together to add to the foundation of trust, respect and love we started building September 24, 1994.

Kay has definitely put up with a lot — not that I haven’t put up with some too, lol. After all, it’s been 30 years! But making it work means celebrating the ups, pushing through the downs, and doing your best to find solutions to the problems that arise more than we wish they would, right? We all laugh, sometimes we shed tears, we kiss and hug and make up, and we move forward together. At least that’s what we strive for.

Happy 30 years of teamwork to the love of my life, and thank you for loving me despite my many quirks. You’re all I need. Well, you and another Astros World Series championship in 2024.