On Thursday August 22 Laurie and I will be married twenty-one years. We met through an ad in the local newspaper and soon found out that we had friends in common. The funniest connection was Laurie’s mother knew my mother when my mother was pregnant with me. I also found out that I had seen her years earlier when Red Skelton was in Hess’, a local department store. Somehow I had heard that Mr. Skelton was in Hess’s and I found him on the fourth floor. Just before I got an autograph from Mr. Skelton, I saw a young woman with her mother get his autograph as well , which was Laurie.
We hit it off right away and started to date, but I had a big concern, would she like the toy soldiers, which was part of my life? I had a previous girlfriend who hate the toys, in fact I could not show her some toy soldiers that my mother had bought me for Christmas one year. I took Laurie to a toy show near the Kennedy Airport and found out that she enjoyed the toys as much as I do. From there it was it was a short time later that we got engaged and married a year later.
The reason is history.
Congratulations, I didn’t make it to 21 years combined in my two marriages, close real close, but no cigar.
Congrats to you both. I can still remember the buzz that swept through either Hackensack or Schutzen Park when you showed up with Laurie at Lango’s show.
Was it really 21 years ago?
Best wishes to you both on your special day.
Bill
I know people were surprised that I had found a lady in my life. I had tried over the years before meeting Laurie, but it did work out for one reason or another. I was very happy when I found her.
Bill remembers when you showed up at the East Coast Toy Soldier Show with Laurie, but I remember when you showed up at OTSN with her. I distinctly remember meeting her there for the first time, and thinking how well she seemed to fit into the hobby and the OTSN social scene. I think I had met you (minus Laurie) there the previous year. Like Mr. Nevins, I really hadn’t noticed it happened 21 years ago. Happy Anniversary!
Don
I agree Laurie enjoys the toys and has helped me many times in finding great items for the collection and resale. I really enjoy when she can go along on the hunts as we have great time. After we are done, we usually go out for a nice meal.
My ex’s didn’t mind my toy soldiers, they minded my toy women I’d meet in bars. Never bring a date to your own wedding.
I actually wish Paul and Laurie would put in a surprise 21st anniversary appearance at OTSN next month.
Don
Sadly we will not be at OTSN next month due to cost and time. Airfare is ridiculous it is cheaper to fly to Las Vegas than to Chicago. To drive, we have to board the boys plus getting the time off for Laurie is a pain maybe another year.
Paul & Laurie: Congratulations. I’d like to share this quote with you guys. I keep a copy of it in my office…
“I hate to be a failure. I hate and regret the failure of my marriages. I would gladly give all my millions for just one lasting marital success.”
J. Paul Getty
Bill
Bill, I also met you and (I believe) your wife at OTSN many years ago. I was just getting into the hobby as an adult, and I was so focused on all the toy soldiers I remembered from childhood that I wasn’t paying too much attention to who the dealers were. It was only my second or third trip to OTSN and I believe I had just started subscribing to your excellent toy soldier magazine. At that time, if my memory serves me correctly, I happened upon your open room, and recognized your name as the editor/publisher of the magazine. I haven’t seen you at OTSN since, so I assume running the East Coast Show every November is more conducive to being in the toy soldier mix than heading all the way out to Chicago. Incidently, at the Michigan Show this year, John Stangel mentioned that his annual sales had been substantially down when your show had to be canceled because of the big hurricane last year. Since he is based in New York City, he said the East Coast Show was really his favorite big show to go to. He’s still a regular attender at Indy and OTSN, but I remember Bill Murphy’s prediction last year at OTSN that eventually the cost of travel would make attendance at Chicago cost prohibitive for east coast dealers like himself and Stangel. But for now, at least, they both continue to attend, with multi-connected rooms and multiple tables.