Eddie and I met in November of 2003. We were talking for a while on JDate, on and off, before we went on our first date. I always knew that I would marry someone exactly like Eddie, but it wasn’t until I met him that I realized it! Eddie and I went to lunch and then to play mini putt on our first date. He says that he let me win, but I am certain I beat him fair and square! Afterwards, we went to IKEA®, where Eddie dragged me around the store looking for a magazine rack, even though it was clear he wasn’t looking for that object. Rather, Eddie was trying to spend more time with me and I was more than happy to oblige.
While at our first lunch date, Eddie told me that he was going for a job interview in Vancouver in a few days. I was perturbed that he would go on a date with me but then seek employment in a different province so, as I usually do, I spoke my mind and asked Eddie why he would do such a thing. Eddie answered me smoothly, revealing that he immediately decided to cancel the appointment after meeting me. I was thrilled, to say the least. After I left our first date, I was so impressed with Eddie. He seemed so kind, cheerful, family-oriented and happy. I felt so blessed to have met him. In fact, I think it is safe to say that I fell in love with him over the next few weeks. We spent so much time together getting to know each other. He loved being spontaneous and drove across the city on our one month anniversary to bring me flowers! The day after our one month anniversary, Eddie presented me with beautiful diamond earrings for my birthday (the same ones I would later wear on our wedding day).
Eddie moved in to my apartment after about 6 weeks and we began to explore what it was like being a couple. We found a wonderful groove and enjoyed living together immensely. We couldn’t wait to get home each day after work to see each other. Our families met shortly afterwards, and I had the privilege of meeting Eddie’s Zaydie. Eddie and I spent a lot of time with our families and, sadly, on January 1, 2004, Eddie’s Zaydie passed away. He was 92 years old and we felt so blessed that Zaydie Zaydie (a great Zaydie) had given Eddie his blessing. As he said in Yiddish, “Eddie finally opened his eyes!”
Eddie proposed to me in February and we quickly set a wedding date for August 1, 2004. We had a wonderful time preparing for the wedding and selecting our bridal party. We couldn’t wait to get married and get ready for the next phase of our life. Our wedding was perfect and all the nervousness that I thought I would feel disappeared when I saw Eddie standing under the chuppah. On our wedding night, poor Eddie got sick. So sick, in fact, that we had to postpone our honeymoon for a day. But, we had a great time in Montreal and planned our big trip to Aruba for the winter. We were thrilled to find out that we were pregnant shortly after we got married and excitedly we anticipated the birth of our first child in June 2005. Our little boy, Seth, was born on June 3, 2005. We fell in love with each other all over again and with our little man. He was perfect and we both settled into a routine as a new family.
Around Seth’s first birthday, we decided to try for a second child. We were so thrilled to get pregnant almost immediately and found out that we were due again in July 2007. But, in May of 2007, I felt something was wrong. As I wasn’t feeling the baby move very much, I went to the hospital to get checked out. Within a few hours, it was clear that something was wrong and our baby boy Noah had to be delivered by emergency c-section that day. Eddie was at home with Seth during this ordeal, as I just thought I was going in for a check-up. I kept Eddie posted, alerting him in my last message that, according to the doctor, he had only 20 minutes to get to the hospital. Thankfully, my brother made a quick drive to pick up Seth so that Eddie could make it to the hospital. I was on the operating table when Eddie came barreling in the labor and delivery area. He was thrown hospital scrubs to put on and ran to be by my side. Our second son Noah was born on May 20th, weighing in at only 3lbs, 3oz. He was a tiny, little, perfect miracle. He stayed in the special care nursery until June 19, 2007, when he was finally allowed home.
Our marriage and relationship has only grown stronger through the trials that we have been through and I feel so happy to report that we are more in love with each other than ever. Our two boys, now 5 1/2 and 3 ½, are the loves of our lives and we can’t imagine life without them. Life just gets better and better, and if it wasn’t for JDate, Eddie and I would have NEVER met. Thank you JDate from the bottom of our hearts!!!
Sheli and Eddie
Burlington, Ontario, Canada