The 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has taken to his official Twitter page to send a loving message to his wife, Michelle, who turns 57 today.
He stated in his message that every day with his wife is a blessing.
“Happy birthday to my love, my partner, and my best friend. Every moment with you is a blessing. Love you, Miche” Obama wrote.
The couple met when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP. Michelle was assigned to mentor Barack while he was a summer associate in 1989.
Despite the fact that she was Barack’s mentor, he asked her out about a month later. She said she was not so keen at the time.
“Barack, about a month in, asked me out, and I thought ‘No way. This is completely tacky,’” she told ABC News.
Eventually, she relented, and the pair went on a date. They started by having lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago, taking a stroll, then ending up going to see the Spike Lee film “Do The Right Thing.”
“He showed all the sides – he was hip, cutting edge, cultural, sensitive. The fountain – nice touch. The walk – patient,” Michelle later told The Telegraph.
In 1991, they got engaged in a simple way at a dinner that was supposed to celebrate Barack passing his bar exam.
“And then the waiter came over with the dessert and a tray. And there was the ring,” Michelle later said. “And I was completely shocked.”
She told ABC News that he simply got down on one knee and asked. Michelle, of course, said yes.
On October 3, 1992, the couple got married. Michelle noted that her husband’s vows were a glimpse at what was to come.
“Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered,” she said.
The pair welcomed their first child, Malia Ann Obama, on July 4, 1998. Her birth is viewed as a patriotic one as July 4 is the Independence Day in the United States of America. Their second child, Natasha Obama, a.k.a Sasha, was born on July 10, 2001.
However, in 2004, Barack was elected to US Senate, beginning their life in the spotlight. Barack became the state senator for Illinois in 2004, catapulting the family into the national spotlight.
Michelle was a notable figure on his campaign, but had her own impressive role as vice president for Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals, insider.com reports.
In 2008, Michelle eventually helped Barack become elected as the 44th President of The United States of America. Though he had a notable term, he once joked that being Michelle’s husband was what people loved most about him.
“If you were going to list the 100 most popular things that I have done as president, being married to Michelle Obama is number one,” Barack said during a State of the Union address in 2010.
Barack won a re-election bid against Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. By then, the couple was a household name, with Michelle being known for her healthy eating initiatives.
President Obama noted that he couldn’t have done nearly as much in his time in office without the support and guidance of Michelle.
In 2016, at the end of their term as the first family, they seemed eager to go back to their old life.
Being the first family for eight years is not always a picnic, and both Barack and Michelle made clear that although they enjoyed their time in the White House, they were ready for a bit of normalcy.
Once they left office in January 2017, the Obamas took some well-deserved time off. They travelled to Italy, Hawaii, and even Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, a spot owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
The political powerhouses celebrated 25 years of a strong marriage on October 3, 2017. So far they have been together for 29 years.
