The person across the room became my wife. It was 1995. I recently graduated high school and was getting ready for college. She was a junior in high school and the girlfriend of a guy I knew that graduated with me.

It was love at first sight, and life pulled us apart before we even got to know each other at that level. Eventually, they separated, but again, the service called me, and I was out to sea for five years out of a 10-year enlistment into the navy. I saw the world, and it meant almost nothing to me without her by my side.

We're married now with two beautiful kids and a vicious 10-lb Maltipoo attack beast. There's a lot to our story, but suffice it to say you are correct. You'll never know you can reach the stars until you extend your hand to the sky. You may need a ladder or something equivalent.

Thanks for the encouraging post.