Love Story

Published 11:08 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Marilyn Marshall was watching a video in an evening speech class at Edmonds Community College in September 1976 when a man in the video caught her eye.

Marilyn looked around the room to see whether Tom Bosserman, the guy in the film, was in the classroom. He was younger than the more mature students in the class. Tom wasn’t there.

“I thought he was rather cute,” Marilyn said.

Marilyn had extended her studies an additional year because she was a member of the college’s vocal jazz group, Soundsation, and the group had been invited to the International Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.

This would be her last year of school. She worked during the day and asked herself why she was taking the class. She was very tired.

Tom, meanwhile, was in his first year of school. Little did he know that he would meet the woman he was going to marry in the first class he took. He heard Marilyn’s speech and was intrigued by her.

A couple weeks later, the two sat near each other and began talking. They had the same Christian background and enjoyed sharing stories with each other.

The couple’s first date was a trip to Poulsbo, after which they saw each other every day. They were engaged six months later.

Marilyn and Tom Bosserman of Everett will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary Saturday. They were married Sept. 1, 1977, at the United Methodist Church in Woodinville. The couple have lived in the Everett and Lake Stevens area for 29 years.

Tom works for Coca-Cola in Marysville. Marilyn worked for the Edmonds, Everett and Lake Stevens school districts as an administrative secretary, and for Volunteers of America in the early childhood education program.

Tom and Marilyn have three children and three grandchildren. They will celebrate their anniversary with a voyage from New York to London on the Queen Mary 2. They also will visit Scotland and Ireland.

When they were dating, Tom bid on two tuxedo rentals at an auction to benefit the trip to Switzerland that Marilyn would make with the jazz group. He bought the tuxedo rentals with the intention of using them for their wedding.

Marilyn left for Europe and performed in several countries. She had a great time but was lovesick for Tom. They kept missing each other’s calls, but finally one came through while she was in Germany. Tom said he wanted to get married as soon as Marilyn got home.

When she arrived at Sea-Tac airport, Tom was waiting for her to get off the plane.

They talked all night about their wedding plans.

Tom had rented an apartment that would be their first home once they were married. They planned their wedding in six weeks, and Marilyn’s mother helped buy the bride’s dress with a $75 reward she received following a robbery at a bank where she was a teller. The couple sang “As The Months Turn Into Years” as Tom played guitar.

Marilyn says that Tom goes out of his way for people and that he is honest and sincere.

“He honors the fact that someone is in need,” Marilyn said. “He is very genuine.”

Marilyn’s best advice to couples is to make God No. 1 in their marriage.

“We have our faith in Christ between the two of us,” Marilyn said. “Everybody hits difficult times, slumps and challenges. There are times that you have to wait for your feelings to catch up with your heart.”

Marilyn says not to rely just on feelings, because they will come and go.

“Stick to your commitment and your vows,” she said.

Tom is a wonderful father and grandfather. He volunteers, giving sermons at a Snohomish rest home; Marilyn helps with the music. They have done so many things together that Marilyn never dreamed they would be able to do.

“Without sounding corny, I really feel like my life began when I met him and married him,” Marilyn said. “My love for him is irreplaceable. It is my life.”

For information on Love Story and Celebrations, call Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or e-mail harper@heraldnet.com.