“You: beautiful, caring, wise, supportive, and strong; Me: lucky,” reads the greeting card that I gave to my wife, Donna, on the occasion of our 7th wedding anniversary.
While Donna is not an official member of my Dream Team, she is my partner as I embark on my quest to play on the PGA Tour. Everyone has heard the saying, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” If you look at some of the most successful players in the history of the game, you see enduring, stable marriages with strong, intelligent wives. Remember Winnie Palmer, Barabara Nicklaus, Valerie Hogan, and Mary Jones. For my friend Fred Funk, I know that his wife, Sharon, is a huge, positive influence on his life and one of the primary reasons that he has played so well.
Donna and I met on December 5, 1991 after she called to volunteer for Children’s Favorite Things, a holiday charity that I had started. We fell in love the moment we laid eyes on each other and immediately became soul mates.
Donna is not a golfer. The only prerequisite to my marriage proposal was that she love me and that I love her. She has a full set of women’s golf clubs that have remained untouched since presented as a Christmas gift in 2005. One day, she may learn to play, especially if our toddler, Charlie, continues his interest in the game.
Even as a non-golfer, she has embraced the game. For our wedding on April 29, 2000, she orchestrated my groomsmen to form an arch with golf clubs and to decorate a golf cart for our exit. During a two-week honeymoon on Maui, she encouraged visits to the Kapalua, K??anapali, and Makena golf courses. Her favorite part of golf is seeing the homes built along the courses and sampling the cuisine in clubhouses.
While sharing my dream, Donna has her own passions. She is a gifted interior designer, which she could do as a profession. She enjoys scrapbooking although she unfortunately has little time for this new hobby. She loves to entertain and cook, which inevitable turns me into a dish washer. Travel and shopping are ardent interests. And like millions of people, she watches American Idol!
In addition to being beautiful, Donna is bright and talented. She earned her MBA at the University of Maryland and has a CPA. She works full-time as a vice president in finance for a Fortune 100 company. Thankfully, she completes our taxes returns and manages the household bills.
Before I met Donna, I was one-dimensional and career-oriented. She has helped me become a better, more complete, and mature man with perspective. She is the love of my life and a wonderful wife and mother. Like the wedding anniversary card states, I am lucky!
Donna, I love you, sweetheart!
Take a moment to leave a comment below. Who shares your dream? How did you meet? What sacrifices do you make for each other?
Until next time, enjoy golf, America!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw dang. That made me sniffle. You need to save this post and read it as required reading once a month or so. =) Thanks, Donna, for being an inspiration and for truly supporting your hubby.
Yoo ‘Da MAAAN, Phil!
The world could use more guys like you!!!! Your wife sounds AWESOME!!!! You BOTH are very lucky to have each other!!! Congrats!
I am lucky!