The Global Positioning System, also called NavStar, that we use was built by the US military and has been fully operational since 1995. Many modern GPS receivers use a combination of both GPS and the RussianGLONASS satellites for improved coverage and accuracy.
The GPS system currently has 31 active satellites in orbits inclined 55 degrees to the equator. The satellites orbit about 20,000km from the earth's surface and make two orbits per day. The orbits are designed so that there are always 6 satellites in view, from most places on the earth.
GPS uses a lot of complex technology, but the concept is simple.
The GPS receiver gets a signal from each GPS satellite. The satellites transmit the exact time the signals are sent. By subtracting the time the signal was transmitted from the time it was received, the GPS can tell how far it is from each satellite. The GPS receiver also knows the exact position in the sky of the satellites, at the moment they sent their signals. So given the travel time of the GPS signals from three satellites and their exact position in the sky, the GPS receiver can determine your position in three dimensions - east, north and altitude.
There is a complication. To calculate the time the GPS signals took to arrive, the GPS receiver needs to know the time very accurately. The GPS satellites have atomic clocks that keep very precise time, but it's not feasible to equip a GPS receiver with an atomic clock. However, if the GPS receiver uses the signal from a fourth satellite it can solve an equation that lets it determine the exact time, without needing an atomic clock.
If the GPS receiver is only able to get signals from 3 satellites, you can still get your position, but it will be less accurate. As we noted above, the GPS receiver needs 4 satellites to work out your position in 3-dimensions. If only 3 satellites are available, the GPS receiver can get an approximate position by making the assumption that you are at mean sea level. If you really are at mean sea level, the position will be reasonably accurate. However if you are in the mountains, the 2-D fix could be hundreds of metres off.
A modern GPS receiver will typically track all of the available satellites simultaneously, but only a selection of them will be used to calculate your position.
Almanac and Ephemeris
To determine the location of the GPS satellites two types of data are required by the GPS receiver: the almanac and the ephemeris. This data is continuously transmitted by the GPS satellites and your GPS receiver collects and stores this data.
The almanac contains information about the status of the satellites and approximate orbital information. The GPS receiver uses the almanac to calculate which satellites are currently visible. The almanac is not accurate enough to let the GPS receiver get a fix. If the GPS receiver is new, or has not been used for some time, it may need 15 minutes or so to receive a current almanac. In older GPS receivers, an almanac is required to acquire the satellites, but many newer models are able to acquire the satellites without waiting for the almanac.
To get a fix, your GPS receiver requires additional data for each satellite, called the ephemeris. This data gives very precise information about the orbit of each satellite. Your GPS receiver can use the ephemeris data to calculate the location of a satellite to with a metre or two. The ephemeris is updated every 2 hours and is usually valid for 4 hours. If your GPS receiver has been off for a while, it may take up to several minutes to receive the ephemeris data from each satellite, before it can get a fix.
Your GPS will have a screen, like the one on the right, which shows which satellites are in use. The bar graphs show the strength of the satellites that the GPS has acquired. If the bar is hollow, the GPS is still downloading the ephemeris. The circular plot shows the location of the satellites in the sky - the centre of the circle is overhead.
Startup
When you switch the GPS on, the time-to-first-fix varies depending on how long it is since you last used the GPS. To get a fix, the GPS receiver needs a valid almanac, initial location, time, and ephemeris data.
The terms "cold/warm/hot start" indicate how many of these pieces of data the GPS receiver already has. The terms mean different things to different GPS manufacturers.
Cold start - if the GPS not been used for a long time and/or has moved several hundred kilometres it will take some time to get the first fix. In this state, the GPS receiver does not have a current almanac, ephemeris, initial position or time. Older GPS units may take up to an hour to search for satellites, download the almanac and ephemeris data and obtain an initial position, though newer GPS units may require much less than this.
If the GPS receiver has moved several hundred kilometres, its assumptions about which satellites to use will be incorrect and it will have to search for them. Most units will let you enter an approximate location to speed the process.
Warm start - current almanac, initial position, and time are all valid. Ephemeris data is either invalid or only partially valid. Time-to-first-fix is likely to be 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on satellite availability and the type of GPS receiver.
Hot start - if the receiver has been off for, say, less than an hour time-to-first-fix will likely be 5-20 seconds.
What does this all mean in practice? If the GPS has been recently used you should get a fix almost immediately. If it hasn't, put the GPS outside with a clear view of the sky and have a cup of tea.
If you have a GPS in a vehicle, it's better to wait for the unit to get a fix before driving off. Receiving ephemeris data for a satellite takes 30 seconds. If you momentarily interrupt the signal during that time the GPS it could take up to a minute more to get the ephemeris for that satellite as it has to start over. If you drive in an area with tall buildings or other obstructions it may take a long time to get the ephemeris data, for four satellites, that is needed for the first fix.
Accuracy
The accuracy of the position your GPS reports is influenced by a number of factors, such as the positions of the satellites in the sky, atmospheric effects, satellite clock errors and ephemeris errors etc.
GPS units often show on the screen an accuracy figure, e.g. EPE on Garmin units. Under ideal conditions, this may be 5, or even 3 metres. Manufacturers are vague on exactly how this figure is determined and it would be unwise to take this figure literally.
You'll get a more realistic figure by looking in the specification section of your GPS receiver's user-manual. Typically, with a handheld GPS, 95% of horizontal GPS positions will be within 10 metres of their true location. The error in altitude will probably be at least twice the horizontal error.
The accuracy of a GPS can be improved by using secondary data from external reference stations.
Many consumer GPS units have a WAAS option. WAAS uses a network of ground-based reference stations. Readings from the reference stations are used to correct for some of the sources of error mentioned above. The correction data is sent to geostationary WAAS satellites which transmit them back to WAAS-enabled GPS receivers to improve position accuracy. WAAS is not available in New Zealand.
Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) is a similar system. The data from ground reference stations is transmitted to the GPS using longwave radio, FM radio, or even cellphones.
How many satellites are needed for a fix?
You need 3 GPS satellites for a 2D fix (i.e. no height) or 4 satellites for a 3D fix. Typically a GPS will track many more satellites than
A-GPS
Have you noticed how cellphone GPS units get a fix almost immediately. They use Assisted GPS (A-GPS) as a way of improving the time to first fix, or even allowing a fix in conditions where the GPS might not otherwise be able to function.
The A-GPS device will use a data connection (e.g. 3G on a cellphone) to contact an assistance server. The server can supply almanac and ephemeris data so the GPS doesn't have to wait to receive them from the satellites. The server can also send an approximate location derived from cellphone towers, allowing an immediate fix. In some cases the A-GPS device may send incomplete GPS data to the server for processing into a fix.
Once you are out cellphone and WiFi coverage, a cellphone GPS unit has to rely on the satellites to provide the ephemeris & almanac date so, like a standard recreational GPS, it takes 1-2mins to get a fix from a cold start.
GPS (The Global Positioning System)
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system
formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations.
GPS us es these "man-made stars" as reference points to
calculate positions accurate to a matter of meters. In fact, with advanced
forms of GPS you can make measurements to better than a centimeter!
In a sense it's like giving every square meter on the planet a unique
address.
GPS receivers have been miniaturized to just a few integrated circuits and so
are becoming very economical. And that makes the technology accessible to
virtually everyone.
These days GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction
equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, even laptop computers.
Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone. Indeed, at Trimble, we
think it just may become a universal utility.
Here's how GPS works in five logical steps:
·The basis of GPS is "triangulation" from satellites.We're
using the word "triangulation" very loosely here because it's a word
most people can understand, but purists would not call what GPS does
"triangulation" because no angles are involved. It's really
"trilateration."Trilateration is a method of determining the relative
positions of objects using the geometry of triangles.
·To "triangulate," a GPS receiver measures distance using the
travel time of radio signals.
·To measure travel time, GPS needs very accurate timing which it achieves
with some tricks.
·Along with distance, you need to know exactly where the satellites are
in space. High orbits and careful monitoring are the secret.
·Finally you must correct for any delays the signal experiences as it
travels through the atmosphere.
We'll explain each of these points in the next five sections of the tutorial.
We recommend you follow the tutorial in order. Remember, science is a
step-by-step discipline!
How accurate is GPS?
Today's GPS
receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel
design. Our 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites
when first turned on, and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or
urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other
sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin GPS receivers
are accurate to within 15 meters, on average.
Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide
Area Augmentation System) capability can improve accuracy to less than 3 meters
on average. No additional equipment or fees are required to take advantage of
WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which
corrects GPS signals to within an average of 3 to 5 meters. The U.S. Coast
Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of
a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by
beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential
beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.
The GPS satellite system
The 24 satellites
that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles
above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than
24 hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an
hour.
GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard
to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar
power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct
path.
Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also called
NAVSTAR, the official U.S. Department of Defense name for GPS):
·The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
·A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
·Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are
constantly being built and launched into orbit.
·A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet
across with the solar panels extended.
·Transmitter power is only 50 Watts or less.
What's the signal?
GPS satellites
transmit two low power radio signals, designated L1 and L2. Civilian GPS uses
the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF band. The signals travel by line of
sight, meaning they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go
through most solid objects such as buildings and mountains.
A GPS signal contains 3 different bits of information - a pseudorandom code,
ephemeris data and almanac data. The pseudorandom code is simply an I.D. code
that identifies which satellite is transmitting information. You can view this
number on your Garmin GPS unit's satellite page, as it identifies which
satellites it's receiving.
Ephemeris data, which is constantly transmitted by each satellite, contains
important information about the status of the satellite (healthy or unhealthy),
current date and time. This part of the signal is essential for determining a
position.
The almanac data tells the GPS receiver where each GPS satellite should be at
any time throughout the day. Each satellite transmits almanac data showing the
orbital information for that satellite and for every other satellite in the
system. http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/ 29.10.2015
Sida loo wajaho Haweenka Haddii aad tahay qof xishood badan
Waxaad tahay nin xishood iyo khasaare Hooygiinuna ayaa aad qasbay inuu sii joogo hal dhan sannadahan.
War kor ku yaal aanu ku tilmaami xaaladdaada? Ma waxaad raadineysaa si sahlan loo soo dejin, laakiin siyaabo wax ku ool ah si ay uga takhalusi dhibaatada? Haddii ay haa tahay, dooda hoos ku qoran waa in aad ku caawin.
Si looga hortago Xishoon, baahnaan doontaa inaad leedahay rumaysad naftaada iyo gunaanadkii ah dhowr sababood ayaa kaa caawin kara inaad gaarto in rumaysadku. Akhri si aad u ogaato wixii dhab ahaan aad sameyn waa in.
Fiiri ku kalsoon
Waa run in mid ka mid ma beddeli karo isaga ama iyada muuqaalka. Sidaas darteed, Nin waxba ma samayn karno oo ku saabsan sida soo jiidasho uu u muuqdo, laakiinse hubaal isaga waa ay sameyn kartaa waxyaabo gaar ah si uu u eego kalsooni badan.
Waxaa la fahmi karaa in aad ku guuldareysteen inay u dhowaadaan haweeney kasta sababtoo ah xishood, laakiinse wax waa in aad sidoo kale u fahmaan waa in mid kale ma jiro kale waxaad ka badan (iyo dadka u badan tahay dhowr ah oo aad u kuu dhow) waa ogyahay inaad tahay qof xishood badan.
Sidaas, waxaad si fudud isku dayi kartaa in dhexdarsamayaan dadka aan iyaga loo oggolaado in ay fahmaan in aad tahay mid ka mid ah kuwa reserved (akhri xishood) rag kuwaas oo mar walba iska daayeen gabdhaha. Tani waxay fududeyn doontaa in aad dadow bashfulness; marka aad maamuli in ay sameeyaan taasi cover-up si guul leh, waxaad si toos ah u bilaabi doonaa dareemayaa kalsooni badan.
Si aad u eegto kalsooni ku qaba waa in aad sidoo kale waxoogaa on sida aad u labistaan diirada. Iska ilaali inay xidhaan dhar uma uu oggolaan doonaa inaad taagan dadkii badnaa. Ha, ma waxaad u baahan doontaa in aad xirato kuwa surwaalka dhaadheer iyo maaliyada oo midabka nuuraayo leh in la arko in dadkii badnaa. Dharkaaga Kaliya dooro yara macquul ah; haddii aad xirato dharka eegi wanaagsan aad ku, waxaad si toos ah dhulkooda doonaa dareenka haweenka ee kuu dhow,.
Hayso ujeedooyinka macquul
Ma ku talo jirtaa inaad ku biiritaankiisa gabadha ugu caansan oo inta badan soo jiidasho ku xeeran? Sida nin xishood, waa inaad ka fogaataa isku dayaya in.
Waa run in Xishoon waxayna hoos u dhigi doontaa si weyn marka aad bilowdo in aad eegto kalsooni badan, laakiin taasi macnaheedu ma aha in aad u noqday smart ku filan si ay u soo jiidan gabar ugu kulul ku xeeran.
Gabar kasta oo horeba waa loo jecel yahay oo lagu yaqaan ka mid ah ugu soo jiidashada badan ee iyada koox sida caadiga ah aad bay u ku kalsoon yahay. The kalsooni aad aad u dhawaan soo ururay ma noqon doonto ku filan inay u dhowaadaan gabar sida a; iyada kalsooni idinkaa iska jebin doonaa xilliga aad soo dhowaaw doonaa.
Sidaas, aad Ujeedada waa in la helo gabar ku habboon heer aad; mar walba ka fogaadaan u dhowaanin haweenka in aad u cabsi geliyaan.
Ha ka baqimayno samaynta xiriirka indhaha
Marka aad ugu dambeyntii u Dhawaanina qof, ha ka baqimayno samaynta xiriirka indhaha. Haweenka si fudud wooed markii nin fiiriya indhaha iyaga oo aan xishood kasta.
Tani waa, Si kastaba ha ahaatee, Dabcan waa howsha ugu adag tahay nin xishood abid lagu weydiin karaa in ay sameeyaan; laakiin, mar i.e ah caqabada koowaad. dhowaanin haweeney ay baxaday u baahnaan doontaa inaad saaray dadaalka ugu wanaagsan ee aad u gudbaan soo socda.
Samaynta xiriirka indhaha waa fududdahay ka badan waxa aad dhab ahayna. Ka dib markii xiriirka indhaha, isku day in aad sii wado muddo dhowr miridh ah; hubaal aad isku yaacsanaan bilowga tegi.
The talooyin kor ku xusan waa in lagaaga caawiyo in aad inay ka soo baxaan qolof of Xishoon. Kale oo ka socda raacdid, waxa kale oo aad ka shaqayn kartaa hagaajinta xirfadaha wada sheekeysi ah iyo cadayashada dareen kaftan aad.
...-Somali love stories - called yaasir and soul,
Yasir has been talking about this story of a painful and he started like this.
He was born in the city of hargeisa, but I grew up in Saudi Arabia in 2000, according to a statement from Saudi Arabia, according to the united Arab Emirates.
The most important girl in the world was taught by a bus that works in London, when we learned the bus in London, and when we learned the bus, we took part of the phone number and the year is 2005
I started to contact my phone number, and she was also seeing me as a very good man, and she would like to take with me a lot of time, and sometimes we used to meet a house that lives with a girl that is not a relative.
I and my soul have become a couple of love each other, without each other, and I used to do things that they love nafisa, also she used to protect me from everything that could bring me a problem or I am getting problems.
My favorite girl in the world would like to write me all in love, and drink the level of love that it has reached me, and I used to drink the level of love for me, and I used to find it to read the interesting wings of writing. Used to be my sweetheart.
It was also a girl who always loves to hear me the most things they love and the most hated things they hate, as it shows the things they want to share with me in the future.
In the middle of the year, the two families were born and agreed to get married, and we have entered the city of Dubai, the united Arab Emirates and the united Arab Emirates. .
According to the situation, we returned to London, where we were staying together, when our marriage took over to eight months, and the same life has been 4 months old. It was a change that we have been able to change. Great to meet yourself.
Every time I ask myself the reasons that brought the strong change that came to me, they used to say that I have no intentions for you, and go marry and marry another woman's intentions, that speech I was surprised, but that I didn't give up, While it's like that I told my soul, my brother, tell me how things are there, then she said, " go and enjoy the other woman you have, then she said to me, go and enjoy the other woman you have, strange, strange, strange, strange. She said, " I have no wife, or I was not talking to the words, but I was young.
She said the story of each other is that I heard the soul of her parents saying that this man doesn't deserve it, the bad mentality of nafisa, while I have nothing to make sure, she raised me with a noise and a heavy cry, she said, open me or I will die when I saw it. The situation in the sky has acknowledged to open the sky.
After a while, I heard that nafisa used to send me the family she was born, until now I don't-know the reasons brought to her family to send me their daughter, but they later, Somali parents while they are good, they are still good, there is still a lot of Those who build their families, these would have remained in fear of God, and don't shy.
Nafiisa is now having a single-Year-old girl, she asked me to go back and I don't know how to go back to the ground, because I was very much in love with my first marriage.
Then I am requesting from the honorable readers, so that they would have been able to do it with me as I would have made my soul.
Jacaylku Waa Nolosha Barkeed referene
... - Somali love stories - lagu kala magacaabo Yaasir iyo Nafisa,
Yaasir ayaa ka sheekeeyay qisadaan oo mid xanuun badan ah wuxuuna ku bilaabay sidan.
Waxaan ku dhashay magaaladda Hargeysa, balse waxaan kusoo barbaaray dalka Sacuudi Carabiya, nasiib wanaag sanadkii 2000 ayaa waxaa nasiib u yeeshay inaan soo caga dhigto magaaladda London ee dalka Ingiriiska. Gabadha aan ifka ugu jeclaan doono ee Nafisa ayaa waxaa isku dhex baranay gaari bas ah oo ka dhex shaqeeya magaaladda London dhexdeeda, markii aan baska isku dhex baranay Nafisa ayaa waxaanu kala qaadanay teleefanadii gacanta ee aanu wadanay, sanadkuna waa 2005-tii. Waxaan bilaabay inaan khadka teleefanka kala xiriiro Nafisa, isla-markaana iyadana waxay ii arkeysay nin aad u wanaagsan, oo waxayba jeclaan jirtay inay ila qaadato waqti badan, mararka qaarkoodna waxaanu ku kulmi jirnay guri ay ku noolleed gabar aanu qaraabo ahayn. Aniga iyo Nafisa ayaa waxaa isku noqonay lamaane aad isku jecel, oo aan kala maarmin, waxaana aallaaba sameyn jiray wax-yaabaha ay jaceshahay Nafisa, sidoo kale iyadana waxay iga ilaalin jirtay wax kasta oo dhibaato ii keeni kareysa amaba aan dhibsanaayo. Gabadha aan ifka ugu jeclaan doono ee Nafisa ayaa waxay jeclaan jirtay inay markasta i soo qorto dhambaalo jaceyl ah, oo ay ku cabireyso heerka uu gaarsiisan yahay jaceylka ay ii qabto, anna waxaan aad uga helli jiray inaan akhristo dhambaalada xiisaha leh ee ay i soo qori jirtay gacalisadeyda. Sidoo kale Nafisa waxay ahayd gabar markasta jacel inay i maqashiiso wax-yaabaha ay ugu jaceshahay iyo wax yaabaha ay ugu naceb tahayba, iyadoo taasi ku muujineysa wax yaabaha ay dooneyso inay mustaqbalka igula wadaagto. Bartamihii sanadkii 2008-dii ayaa waxay labada qoys ee aanu ka dhalaynay ay isku afgarteen inaanu isguursano, waxaanu ku aqal-galnay magaaladda Dubai ee dalka Imaaraadka Carabta, waxaana magaaladda Dubai aanu soo wada joognay muddo dhan seddex bilood oo aanu kusoo qaadanay nolol macaan. Iyadoo ay xaaladdu sidaasi tahay ayaa waxaanu dib ugu soo laabanay magaaladda London oo aanu markii horeba wada joognay, markii uu guurkeenu u kasoo wareegay sideed bilood, isla-markaana ay Nafisa i leedahay 4 bilood oo uur ah, ayaa waxaa dhacday in aan isbadal balaaran kala kulmo Nafisa. Mar kasta oo aan Nafisa weydiiyo sababaha keenay isbadalka xoogga leh ee ku yimid, ayaa waxay igu dhihi jirtay saxib niyad kuuma haayo ee iskakey fasax, oo orod oo guurso naag kaloo niyad ku heysa, hadalkaasi waan la-yaabay, laakiin sidaasi kuma aanan quusan, iyadoo ay sidaasi tahay ayaa waxaan maalin maal maha kamid ah aan Nafisa ku iri, walaaley bal i sheeg sidee wax u jiraan, markaas ayaa waxay igu tiri, orod oo lasoo baashaal naagta kale ee aad qabto, naag kale aaaaaaaaa, yaab, yaab, yaab, aniga oo aan wax naag qabin, amaba aan la-sheekeysan ayay igu tiri ereygaasi, waxaana igu soo yaraaday adduunkii oo dhan. Waxay sheekadu ay isku cakirnaataba ayaa waxaan maqlay Nafisa waalidkeeda oo leh ninkaan kuuma qalmo ee orodoo iska soo fur, caqli xumada Nafisa, iyadoo aan waxba hubsan ayay igu kicisay buuq iyo qaylo xoogan, waxayna igu tiri, i fur ama anigaa dhimanaayo, markii aan arkay inay xaaladdu cirka isku shareertay ayaa waxaan garwaaqsaday inaan iska furo. Muddo kadib ayaa waxaan maqlay in Nafisa ay igu soo diri jireen qoyska ay ka dhalatay, ilaa hadase ma-aqaan sababaha keenay in Nafisa qoyskeeda ay igu soo diraan gabadhooda, laakiin waxay ahaataba, waalidiinta Soomaaliyeed iyadoo ay fiican yihiin intooda badan, ayaa waxaa hadana jira kuwo dumiya qoysas dhisan, kuwaana waxaa ugu baaqi lahaa in ay ALLE ka cabsadaan, kana xishoodaan. Nafisa oo hada ii heysa hal gabar oo laba sano jir ah, ayaa waxay iga codsatay inaan dib ugu soo laabto, mana garanaayo qaab aan ugu laabto, maxaa yeelay anigoo aad u jacel ayay dhulka ugu jiiday, weliba waxay iga xumeysay guurkaygii ugu horeeyay. Hadaba akhristayaasha sharafta leh waxaan ka codsanaayaa, bal inay ila soo taliyaan sida aan ka yeelli lahaa Nafisa.
LICENSE TO WED by Donna Kelsey, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
One summer day in 1957, we headed to the courthouse for a marriage license. My husband-to-be, Steve, asked the clerk for a fishing license. She advised him a fishing license cost $1.50 and a marriage license cost $2.50. With some thought and a smile, he chose the marriage license, and so our life together, later filled with two children, began. Whenever we had a disagreement, I would remind my husband that he could have saved money had he chosen a fishing license, and it would have expired in a year. The extra dollar cost him 53 years of wedded bliss.
MIRROR IMAGE by Elana Pate, Palm Bay, Florida
In mythology, humans had four arms, four legs, and two faces. Fearing them, Zeus split them into two, forcing an eternal search for their other half. Zeus failed. When my (now) husband arrived at my house for our first date, I opened the door to my other half, dressed exactly like me, head to toe: aviator Ray-Bans, Levis, Timberland boots, the same yellow ski jacket. After our amazed laughter, he said, “One of us has to change.” I changed my clothes but not my mind. I knew we’d be together forever.
MY SHINING LIGHTby Deborah Kahn Schreck, Sayville, New York
I volunteered at Ground Zero after hometown firefighters responded but never returned. Lt. Timothy Higgins was one of them. I felt Timmy’s presence during dark moments, guiding me along every path. Working in sight of the burning piles, I met a fire marshal named Steve. I told him I was from Freeport. Steve said he’d been a firefighter with a guy from Freeport. I asked, “Who?” He replied, “Tim Higgins.” I followed this path and married Steve in 2005. I think of Tim every day. He must have been a shining light. Certainly, he was my beacon.
DESTINY AT THE DENTIST by Kathleen Curran, Canyon Country, California
Having just cemented a new bridge, my dental-assistant mother said to her patient, “Your girlfriend’s going to love your new teeth.” He replied, “I’m between girlfriends right now.” She said, “Don’t go anywhere. I have two daughters, Kathy and Vicky. Let me get their pictures from my wallet.” Dan was still reclined in the dental chair with his bib on and wasn’t going anywhere. Rushing back, she showed him her daughters’ photos, saying, “Here is our phone number. Give Kathy a call—she’s the older one.” He called, and we’ve been happily married for 39 years. Thanks, Mom!
A MUTUAL CALLING by Lauren Belski, New York, New York
Brian and I have been married three years, but we’ve been together ten. We met as AmeriCorps volunteers on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota—a tucked-away place with a scattered population of 1,000. He taught computers and played guitar. I taught English and wrote poetry. In the volunteer house, we courted each other by making a phone out of tin cans and a string. I still remember his voice in my ear. Automatic goose bumps. A year later, our mothers discovered we were born in the same hospital in New Jersey, 1,600 miles away.
A BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE by Carmen Marden, Campbell, New York
He left a single red rose on my windshield. He wasn’t allowed to send me flowers at work, since my husband had died only six months before. When the time was right, he sent me flowers on my birthday, Valentine’s Day, and eventually every anniversary. The guys at work told him he made them look bad. They were joking, but he wasn’t. He kept sending me flowers. He made me breakfast in bed. But most importantly, he invited my daughter and her three children to move in with us after she split from her then-husband. What’s more romantic than that?
LOVE BOAT REUNION by Rick Bennette, Tequesta, Florida
The moment I met Denise aboard the Love Boat, I knew she was someone special. She became my first love, but we lived 90 miles apart. After the cruise, we maintained our love affair through handwritten letters. Eventually, geography took its toll. We went on to separate lives, yet I thought about her quite often. Thirty years later, we reunited in Grand Central Station. I hired a violinist to play our love song as we held each other for the first time in three decades. After wishing to be with her all those years apart, we finally married.
HE FOUND MEby Sandra Dopierala, San Marcos, California
I was thinking I’d be alone forever after a terrible time in my life, when there he was. While I sat soaking in the fresh air after a two-week bout of bronchitis, he stood watching the waves roll in. He asked if he could sit next to me. “Sure, why not?” I said. We people-watched and talked about which dog breed was our favorite. We watched the sunset together. I didn’t know it then, but I’d found my husband—or rather, he had found me. We now return to that spot every year on our anniversary.
THE BEST BAD HAIR DAY by Saveeta De Alwis, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The air smelled strongly of salt. My boyfriend had asked me to meet him at the beach. I love the beach, but today the sea breeze really wasn’t helping my hair. I grumbled as I made my way to the shore. I saw the light of candles in the distance, but couldn’t make them out, as I’d forgotten my glasses. Why couldn’t he have picked another place for dinner? I walked up to him and was about to open my mouth to complain, when he suddenly got down on his knee and said, “Will you marry me?”
CALL OF DESTINYby Louis Corio, Mount Airy, Maryland
For most couples, it’s love at first sight. For me and my wife, it was love at first sound. She called my apartment in a huff at 1:00 a.m., looking to tell off my roommate, whom she had just started dating. My roommate wasn’t home, and I happened to be standing by the phone, so she vented to me, the faceless stranger. We ended up talking for two hours, learning a lot about each other, and falling in love. Twenty-seven wonderful years later, her voice is still music to my ears!
THAT DAY by Krista Swan, Columbus, Ohio
Our romance began with sparks. But over the years, our passion shape-shifted into smoldering resentment, periodically erupting into fiery altercations. Our two sons were in middle school when I moved us away from the inferno. We settled in my old hometown. My husband wrote me a letter filled with animosity for leaving. Then one day, everything changed. My husband called. “I realize now that nothing in life is more important than family, and I will do everything I can to keep ours together,” he said. “Please come home.” So we did. That day was September 11, 2001.
TO TONIGHTby Kathy Cornell, Haddam, Connecticut
Sometimes I tend to think about what I don’t have: a house on the ocean, a big career I could use to impress people at my high school reunion. Then I hear his car in the driveway. I think we’ll grill tonight. Later we’ll watch some reruns of sitcoms from a long time ago that remind me of when we were young. He’ll doze off, and it’ll be time for the day to end. We’ll say good night to the cats. We’re all still here, a miracle. When I’m very old, I will wish for a day like this.
KABOOM! by Greg Hajduk, Valparaiso, Indiana
November 26, 1975. I was at a party with friends playing ping-pong. I was 15; she was 16. Her name was Joanne. I ripped a portion from a paper bag and wrote, “Can I kiss you?” She nodded yes. We left the party and went to our hangout spot. It was 6:30 p.m. and already dark, with huge snowflakes falling. I kissed her for the first time and saw fireworks. We married August 4, 1979, and this November 26 will be the 39-year anniversary of that first kiss. I still see fireworks!
WAKE-UP CALL by Pat Ferry, Mesa, Arizona
I was flying with C-130 cargo planes for several months, moving cargo all over the world. I would be gone for two to three weeks, home one day, then gone again for several weeks. Upon returning home late one night, I knocked on our front door. “Who is it?” My wife called out. “Pat,” I answered. “Pat who?” she snarled. I got her point and applied for a desk job the next day.
