i just rediscovered the first photo on my work computer…got it from liz’s dad a few years ago when i was helping our team in india create a presentation on american culture.
the subject?
prom.
(second and third photos presented to illustrate the transformation).
1996.
!
(can you believe i snagged her looking like that?).
2006.
2008.
Asalamu Alaykom,
I saw the pics. I read the comments. Now, I think I have the perfect descriptive word. Really, it’s a mix of the comments:
AdorkABLE!
Naseeb is an Arabic word for fate. If you have naseeb with another, you simply WILL be with that person. It doesn’t matter how your hair looks, for instance, as the other person will see someone amazing.
I think that Your Liz’s love for her naseeb not only helped him to grow facial hair, but to grow-up, and to grow into manhood. Subhanallah, you are so manly in the 2nd and 3rd photos! She complimented you with all that gorgeous feminity and you improved through the years because of it.
My husband and I were high school sweethearts too. We try to keep those pictures hidden
I think your pictures are great!
Suhweeet!
My hubs and I went to our senior prom together as well and the picture is so precious to me. Although it does make me feel old to look at it.
That prom picture is so sweet. You’re BOTH adorable. You look scared! She looks thrilled. But Liz also seems to have been one of those people who smiles perfectly for the camera, naturally, every damn time.
You two were just amazing. Liz was a gorgeous woman. I’d love to read “your story” here one day- how/when you met, etc. All the best. Thinking of you during the holidays.
I’m a lurker, but had to comment on the fantastic photos. Thanks so much for sharing. You and your family have touched us tremendously. We’ve experienced loss, not like yours but painful still. I sometimes read your posts out loud to my husband. You write beautifully.
lisa
BEAUTIFUL!! xoxo
Wow, nice to k now that NOW kids in the 80’s are starting to look freaky! Ya, sorta kidding. You’ll get over it, the point is , you are adorable now!
Take it from someone who is old enough to be your mom!!!!!!!!!!!!
You look like Travis Barker! Pre-tattoo days Travis Barker of course..Maddie has some good looking parents
Liz was truly your soulmate.
I don’t care what anyone says, you were a cute-boyish type and I bet your smile, witty personality and love for her is what won her over. You’ve matured into a handsome man, and wonderful dad.
Those were great to see!
Ach. I can’t help myself. I’ve been coming back to that prom photo all day. I’m always fascinated by the way pictures can put our various selves next to each other — like time travel. I just wish they could talk to each other!
So this will probably sound really stupid, but all I can think when looking at those two sweet children’s faces (and that’s what you were, even up until nine months ago) is that if someone had laid it all out for you the night that prom photo was taken and told you two everything that was going to happen between then and now — and gave you the choice to just skip it and try something else — I just feel so sure you’d both have screamed “HELL NO!!!”
Makes me smile, just imagining that. Though I guess I still also wonder just a little if it’s really true. (But if it is, well…there you have it, huh?)
Oh, Matt.
you both look good. She is BEAUTIFUL! Maddy looks just like her Mama! I’m thinking about you and Miss Maddy during the holidays.
Oh how precious! My hubby and I have been together since my senior yr of highschool in 1984 and I swear we have a very similar photo – so you are not alone at all Matt. Liz knew a good thing when she found it and never let go! Thanks SO much for sharing this with all of us creeps!
Great photos and great memories, I’m sure. I check in on your site regularly to see how you’re doing, especially at this time of year with so many memories lurking. Your sweet baby looks so happy – you’re a great dad.
I apologize I have been a “lurker” for months now and have never commented. I didn’t realize you two were together in high school. It will be so nice for Maddy someday to look at all of the beautiful pictures of her parents together.
you must miss her terribly. my heart hurts just thinking about you. i check your blog everyday and i think you are incredibly amazing. and maddy is the cutest baby on the planet who is the luckiest girl to have you for a daddy. all my best.
Oh my! I loved all of the pics, but the first was AWESOME! You look like a kid in a candy store! How sweet! And Liz looks beautiful as always! But, Matt, I am soooo happy to see that you did grow into those ears! HAHA! Love it!
@Em-I was peeing my pants when I read your comments about shagging! And he does look a little military-esque.
Come on, AJ-I know you are busy with your beuatiful little girl, but you HAVE to have some more incriminating photos of Matt !!
you’ve aged well….how’s that for not giggling and being nice at the same time? …….
all three pics are perfect – just like the love you all share!!!
do me a favor – IF you ever shave the beard – please warn your daughter. my dad shaved his off when i was about 11 and showed up at my girl scout parent dinner. i had no idea who he was and was quite pissed that my mom showed up with some random dude.
(((hugs)))
LOVE the pics!
laughing…
Your Pictures are great. Liz always had the biggest smile. Or at least what I know of her from your awesome blog. And Maddie is every bit the picture of here mom! You have to be soo.. Proud!
Pictures are priceless.
Joni Mitchell says ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.’
For many people that’s sadly true. Yet I get the feeling that really didn’t apply to you and Liz.
It’s hard to see it like this yet, but really it makes you incredibly lucky, in a way.
Spirits up.
Wow. That’s a rockin’ prom picture. Liz looks really good in that photo. I’m not saying you don’t, but we’ll just say you’ve gotten better with age!
tehee.. sorry i had to giggle. awesome pics though!! Liz never had an awkward phase did she. i had like 7. i think i’m in one now…
great happy post. i love it!!
hugs from NJ,
erica and Landon
Hi Matt,
I´m brazilian.
If you speak/write portuguese please contact me !
Great pics – I looked a few days ago – looking again and still smiling at how happy you look together. ((hugs)) this season Matt. It’s amazing how much Maddy looks like Liz. Just beautiful. Thinking of you – Melissa in the armpit of America
I agree with the above. It must have been “Naseeb!”
Having met you, yes I can believe it. Prom photos are the greatest.
Just beautiful.
Matt, this is stupid, but I need help with my new stay at home mom business website, and no one I know can help me. So for some reason I am up battling my own depression demons and your website came to mind. I know I am a stranger but what the freak do I do about fucken search engine optimization that is what the host sever has told to me fix. WTF. Lol, I am silly tired.
On another note, Maddy is adorable, my little one just turned one and went from crawling to running in two weeks, its crazy, they get big way too fast.
By the way, I think it’s time for more new and updated Maddie photos!
Dude! You two are too freakin’ cute. I agree with others… no fair that Liz was always gorgeous, even in the prom pic where so many of us have horrible, dated hair or something! You are SO gonna be in trouble when Madeline is a teenager…
You’re both adorable. I realize that adorable probably isn’t what most young men going to their prom would want to be called, but adorable you were! So sorry to have to break the news…but well…honesty….you know. Santa is watching, after all!
Matt – GREAT pics. Liz has such an infectious smile and its evident Madeline has it too!
Such sweet photos! Even after reading through your archives, I didn’t realize you two were together so long. So sweet! She really is a beautiful women. BTW, I’ve been meaning to ask, you seem to travel a lot and to very cool places none the less. Do you do this for work and if so what line of work are in you? I am just curious and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.
I cannot believe your charity of choice post! WOW, what a fabulous donation to such an amazing cause. And that photo of Madeline is adorable! It’s hard to believe she is standing already.
@ Antonia – eu falo portguese, eu posso ajudar voce com traducaos si voce quer. mais nao gramatica!
english translation:
I speak portuguese is there anything I can translate for you? but not grammar!
(my spelling is horrendous in portuguese. )
hugs from NJ
erica
I love it! I think you both look great, but I agree with most about the facial hair thing. Maybe that’s because it’s how we only see you now? Be proud of those pics! I like my prom pics because they were around the same time. Now as for my sisters who were in the 80’s….scary.
Thanks for sharing – love seeing the high school pictures. My husband and I have been together since high school, too – made me want to get out our prom pictures and take a look!!!
Thinking of you….
I love the Pictures. If I’m honest I had a good laugh. Sorry! You look so different, the stripe down the pants is classic, were you in the marching band!! Liz looks timeless and beautiful. Madeline will love that picture in years to come. Thank you for sharing you life with us all.
Wow! thanks for sharing…amazing…true love never dies! love the pics! Maddy will so love that pic
Love looks good on you both! I agree, the beard just suits you.
OK so I am almost caught up on the blog. I just read this one and like others I had same thought. how cute you were and how special Liz was to have seen what a catch you were even in geek years. But seriously the one thing that I kept thinking who the hell is Liz sitting on. Whose feet are they.
I think that they are very sweet. You can just tell how in love you both were
And I agree-keep the beard
[…] prom photo, […]
are ya one of those- lack a chin- grow a beard men?
I think you were a perfect couple and ya snagged each other up right.
You’re definitely workin’ the whole “gets better with age” thing Matt. Thank you so much for allowing us to be voyeurs in all of your experiences with Liz, both great and tragic. We love you and Maddy!