How long have you been married?
Dan and Tracey: We will be married seventeen years and 10 months in April.
Where did you meet?
Dan: We met at DHS Elementary School.
Tracey: He was the cute snack man. lol
What were your first impressions of each other?
Dan: My first impression of her was man she is she but dang her ankles are ashy.
Tracey: Oh, Whatever My first impression of him was he’s cute but he has a big nose.
What made you want to get married?
Dan: What made me want to marry is when I saw her hooping (Playing basketball) with her hair and nails done. I thought to myself “Oh Yea She The One!”
Tracey: For me, I did a list of the top 10 things I want in a man and he was my ultimate mate.
How did you propose?
Dan: I spoke with the manager at Applebee’s about my idea. They agreed to participate. I told her I had a speaking engagement to attend. When she arrived at Applebee’s someone was reading a poem I wrote, I finished the poem and came out and asked her to marry me.
How does your faith play into your marriage?
Dan and Tracey: It’s a natural part of our marriage; we go to church every Sunday. We like to color coordinate when we go to church it’s one of our traditions. We all wear the same color.
Do you have any marriage survival tips?
Dan and Tracey: Yes, Be friends, “Let it ride” means to ask yourself; would you rather be right or happy? If the answer is happy then let it ride, know your center by not letting other’s opinions in your marriage.
How do you keep the fire burning in your relationship?
Dan and Tracey: Be spontaneous. Always laugh, oh and when she wears this certain type of fragrance.
Is there anything you would do differently looking back on your marriage?
Dan and Tracey: Yes, Financial decisions would have been well thought out.
Why do you think African Americans have the lowest marriage rate, but the largest divorce rate?
Dan and Tracey: Because some people are in it for the wrong reasons, selfness, financially, infidelity, counseling isn’t recommended, and sometimes we tend to celebrate separation.
If you were giving advice to a couple who wanted to get married, what would you say?
Dan: First we would ask why? Have you all looked at each other’s goals? What made you choose him/her?
Tracey: Make a list see how many negatives verses positives, then decide. Don’t marry just because.
What does marriage mean to you?
Dan and Tracey: Forever. Can’t do without. Able to share your life with someone you love. Commitment. Sickness and Health.
