“We have a shared history. It’s great to have someone you have a shared history with. Her ideas on art and culture influenced mine,” said Mr. Edmonds. On having a significant other, he added, “You influence each other, you have an influence.”

Twenty-nine years ago, Mr. Edmonds met his wife Sarah at Perkins.

“I went there to meet my friend Michael, to get a cup of coffee, and then she was there…and BOOM,” he burst out.

After their first encounter, Mr. Edmonds’ roommate threw a party and she was invited over.

“We were playing poker for nickels and dimes, and I kept losing. She was feeding me money to keep me there on the table,” Mr. Edmonds said, “from there, we eventually started being together and started dating.”

On Thanksgiving Day in 1988, the two were in a park by a river in Fond du Lac.

“I told her I wanted to stay there at the park. I proposed to her there and she said yes. She was so happy she forgot to say yes. At the time, I didn’t think of a ring beforehand. I couldn’t afford a ring but she didn’t mind. We told her family and the next day, my family. We got married in July, and I wrote a poem for our wedding.”  

On whether marriage limited freedom or not, Mr. Edmonds said, “Well in some ways you have more freedom because you don’t have to think who to be with. Fills your life and makes you committed to a relationship. You need to care for the relationship, otherwise, you lose the relationship.”

His wife is an art teacher at Einstein Middle School. When you walk into Mr. Edmonds’ room, traces of her are found in every corner. The panel painting above the door, the clay pencil holder on his desk, and the art posters all over the walls.

¨She’s a pretty strong individual, and in some respects, she does her own thing. We spend a lot of time together. She’s my best friend. We do things together, we go on walks, and we go on trips. Our two daughters, we’re always focused on them.¨