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and yelled for him to come back because I couldn’t see anything. The girls and I laughed as he ran fast and far away from us. We hoped that from then on, he wouldn’t show anyone his shortcoming. The next week, Robert walked me to my car and we started dating soon after.
    Our first date was spent at the gym, where Robert showed me boxing moves and punches, aka self-defense moves. He also gave me some self-defense tips that I well remember. Some of his tips are very simple but very effective. For example, hair spray can be a very effective Mace, so a travel-sized can of hair spray in a purse can be a good idea — if you have time to get to it.
    Robert told me that a friend of his carried a small but sharp knife in her purse. When a date would not take no for an answer, she got out of the car. He followed her, so she pulled out the knife, held it against his crotch, and said, “Do you want me to cut it off? Remember: No really means yes.” Later, she talked to Robert, and then Robert “talked” to the date.
    He also told me that his favorite comedians, The Three Stooges, just pretended to poke each other in the eyes, but obviously, when that is actually done, it is very painful. And if it is done by someone with long fingernails, it can give the attacker a heaping helping of hurt, perhaps permanently.
    He also told me that often the best things to do are to scream and run away. If you have to kick off your high heels to run, it is a small sacrifice no matter how much the high heels cost. Don’t wear tight skirts that prohibit running. If you do, hike up the skirt so you can run. (Robert’s favorite fashions are the ones that allow women to take protective measures.) And screaming lets potential heroes know that you need help.
    But I am — and he is — aware that sometimes you are the one who has to take action against the attacker. For example, sometimes you have to take action to protect other people — especially loved ones — although usually the best thing is to call the police. Robert told me a story about Susie Essman, who played the extremely foul-mouthed Susie Greene on TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm . A creep grabbed her 16-year-old daughter’s bottom once in front of her. She got in between her daughter and the creep and screamed at him and called him every filthy name she knew. The creep ran away — fast. She said later, “I went crazy on him!” Her daughter told her, “You just Susie Greened him.” She replied, “Let that be a lesson for you! You Susie Greene anybody who does that to you!” Sometimes women have to do the work that is normally done by avenging angels who carry flaming swords.
    Anyway, that is the kind of person Robert is. He can take care of himself, he wants the people he loves to be able to take care of themselves, and he wants the people who need help to get help.
    I went off to college, majoring in business while Robert stayed in Florida working on his boxing career. We married during my fourth year of college. It was a small, intimate, summertime beach wedding on Siesta Key Beach at sunset. We had our daughter, Jamie, two years later. She was our pride and joy.
    Robert
    Leah and I have a quiet day at home. After losing our daughter, Jamie, in an automobile accident, me leaving and turning to drugs to conceal the pain, and then me giving up the drugs, I feel like I will never have enough time with Leah. Losing our only child was and still is devastating. Jamie’s room is just as she left it the morning she died, just over three years ago. Leah and I can’t bear the thought of going in there. We leave her bedroom door closed and live our lives with a piece of our heart missing.
    We go for a swim, soak in the hot tub and have dinner outside. Leah showers before bed and comes out wearing a red and white silk boxing robe. I have to do a double take because at first it looks like it’s my boxing robe. She smiles and stands in the doorway wearing a silk robe, slightly open in the