A chance meeting in a laundromat turned our worlds upside down

Montana meets California in a perfect match

In the summer of 1995, I walked into a steamy laundromat in Northern Idaho, far from the nearest town, with the intent of washing my clothes.

Instead, I met the Red-Headed Girl of My Dreams, who was also there with the intent of washing her clothes.

In that instant my heart began to pound involuntarily and my life was changed forever.

She was from Montana and I was from California, but as we talked while our clothes washed and dried, it felt as if we had known each other for a very long time.

Bob and Shelley with their children (left to right) Emme, Molly, Mick and Maev) at the California Redwoods in Humboldt County.

If you had shown me this photo with Shelley and me and our four kids then and said "This is in your future," I don't know how I could have imagined that was true.

June 28 is the day we were married at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Woodland.

You never know what surprises the Good Lord has in store just around the corner. Or just inside the laundromat.

Thank heaven for dirty clothes.

(You can reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com)