Dec. 8, 2009 -- Debbie wanted me to mention her on my blog, so I'll officially announce what all my soccer (and other) friends already know: sometime in 2010 - sooner rather than later - my long-time friend, Debbie Denslow, and I are getting married. We officially made the decision on the front porch of the Castine Inn, Castine, Maine on the evening of August 20 and I gave her a ring in St. Paul, MN on October 23.
This is an exciting time for me, since my favorite female soccer player, my daughter Kirsten, gave birth to my first grandchild, Oliver Chesla, back on Sept, 29 in Stillwater, MN. My favorite male player, my son, Scott, has been having a good fall teaching 5th grade in neighboring Haddon Twp., NJ. And now I will have someone with whom to share my life. I can't wait!!
It's been three years since the tragic death of Kirsten and Scott's mother, my favorite soccer mom, my wife, Louise Harbach. She died just 16 days before our 37th anniversary. But she would be happy to know that I am marrying Debbie, whom she knew well.
Debbie and I first met at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Gwynedd, PA (just outside Philadelphia) not quite 50 years ago and our families knew each other there. Debbie and I went out on occasion in high school, went to some of the same parties, had some friends in common and we stayed in touch over the years. She was married long ago and it didn't work out, but she had a wonderful daughter who is now married to a great guy and she has two lovely grandchildren ages 5 and 3.
Debbie has two masters degrees and is an elementary school teacher of remedial math who is devoted to her teaching, but also to her own family and to our expanding family. She has a great sense of humor, loves theater and loves to travel. Already we've been to England, Canada, Minnesota three times and New England four times.
We hope to hold the wedding at Messiah and to have the ceremony performed by my brother, Gary, another former soccer player (at Penn Charter) and coach at Northfield-Mount Hermon School, who also happens to be an Episcopal priest. He had practice for a family wedding by doing Kirsten's in 2008.
Friends have asked me if Debbie is a soccer fan. She is now. I think her first exposure to the sport was going to a farewell party for Carli Lloyd before the '08 World Cup. She has been to dinner with many of my Haddonfield soccer friends - including Coach Gess - and attended the wedding of a former player of mine last year. She and I watched the U.S. play Argentina at the Meadowlands, and Debbie came to two of our Haddonfield H.S. games this fall, including the exciting state championship match at TCNJ a few weeks back. Plus she flew up to Portland with me for the Bowdoin-Wheaton women's game back in September. So she is building her soccer credentials. There are a lot of games left in this story.
This is an exciting time for me, since my favorite female soccer player, my daughter Kirsten, gave birth to my first grandchild, Oliver Chesla, back on Sept, 29 in Stillwater, MN. My favorite male player, my son, Scott, has been having a good fall teaching 5th grade in neighboring Haddon Twp., NJ. And now I will have someone with whom to share my life. I can't wait!!
It's been three years since the tragic death of Kirsten and Scott's mother, my favorite soccer mom, my wife, Louise Harbach. She died just 16 days before our 37th anniversary. But she would be happy to know that I am marrying Debbie, whom she knew well.
Debbie and I first met at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Gwynedd, PA (just outside Philadelphia) not quite 50 years ago and our families knew each other there. Debbie and I went out on occasion in high school, went to some of the same parties, had some friends in common and we stayed in touch over the years. She was married long ago and it didn't work out, but she had a wonderful daughter who is now married to a great guy and she has two lovely grandchildren ages 5 and 3.
Debbie has two masters degrees and is an elementary school teacher of remedial math who is devoted to her teaching, but also to her own family and to our expanding family. She has a great sense of humor, loves theater and loves to travel. Already we've been to England, Canada, Minnesota three times and New England four times.
We hope to hold the wedding at Messiah and to have the ceremony performed by my brother, Gary, another former soccer player (at Penn Charter) and coach at Northfield-Mount Hermon School, who also happens to be an Episcopal priest. He had practice for a family wedding by doing Kirsten's in 2008.
Friends have asked me if Debbie is a soccer fan. She is now. I think her first exposure to the sport was going to a farewell party for Carli Lloyd before the '08 World Cup. She has been to dinner with many of my Haddonfield soccer friends - including Coach Gess - and attended the wedding of a former player of mine last year. She and I watched the U.S. play Argentina at the Meadowlands, and Debbie came to two of our Haddonfield H.S. games this fall, including the exciting state championship match at TCNJ a few weeks back. Plus she flew up to Portland with me for the Bowdoin-Wheaton women's game back in September. So she is building her soccer credentials. There are a lot of games left in this story.
