Four years ago I was staying in Utah with my friend Martina Muir. Her father had just passed away unexpectedly and of course there were lots of important family meetings and decisions to make.

I was hanging out at her house by myself, and decided since I’d be in Utah for a month, I’d scope out the local possibilities for getting out a bit while I was there. I certainly was not looking for any serious relationships. So I set up a profile on a singles site and put down that I was simply looking for friendship, in the North Salt Lake area for the month (but that I lived in the Chattanooga TN area).

Then on July 1, I get this note, “Are you real?”

Then another message came through from him “”I’m dropping off of this site. If you’d like to get to know me, David Kuhns in Springville. Contact me if you’re interested.”

I don’t know why I gave this man my real name at this point. It’s not something I normally do without a bit of conversation first, but it felt like he’d thrown down the gauntlet with, “Are you real?” Something about that question elicited what I realize now is such a typical Dave-Marnie exchange.

“Marnie Pehrson if you want to google me and see if I’m real.”

Little did I know that night that (here four years later) I’d be married to that crazy, funny, brilliant, generous, sexy, handsome man who never meets a stranger, bargain hunts better than anyone I’ve ever known, eats stinky cheese, dances and sings like a rock star, is amazing with children, and drives with the top down on his convertible even in 30 degree weather.

What a miraculous, amazing and wonderful four years you’ve given me Dave! Because you’re so outside the box, you give me permission to do things I normally would have never thought or had the courage to do. I’ve had more fun in the last 4 years than I did in the other 51 combined. You’ve taught me …

• There’s absolutely no reason you can’t dance with your partner in a Waffle House or a Chiropractor’s office
• Wildflowers and what some people consider weeds actually can be quite beautiful, nutritional, medicinal and attract pollinators.
• Just because you’re assigned a seat at a concert, doesn’t mean you have to stay in that spot the whole time.
• There’s always something fun to see or do if you open your eyes and look around.
• T-shirts and hats aren’t clothing, they’re conversation starters.
• You don’t have to know someone to be generous and give them something.
• Just because there’s a faster, more efficient route, doesn’t mean you won’t have more fun taking an unexpected one.
• Any piece of plastic, old cloth, or cardboard can be put to good use.
• Yawping at the sunset every evening can be very therapeutic.
• Hole-in-the-wall restaurants can have the best food around and the friendliest of atmospheres.
• There is a coupon for almost anything and almost anything you need can be found on Facebook marketplace, an estate sale or along the side of the road.
• It’s not about the destination, it’s about what you see and experience along the way.
• There’s not a bad day that can’t be made better by cranking up the tunes and taking a top-down-drive in a convertible.
• You may think you only have two options, you really have dozens and they aren’t better or worse, they’re just different.
• Almost anything can be turned into a rhyme.
• Living outside the box, inspires and encourages others to live authentically and to do their own thing.
• You can always find your own beach, sacred grove, or hammock in the shade if you’re looking for it.

I love you, David! I don’t think anyone but you could have gotten me to open my heart to love again. ❤️