Local couple has much to celebrate

Jolene Cleaver 04/07/09

John and Erin Henderson on their wedding day. They celebrate their first anniversary on May 3.

If you ask Erin Henderson how long she’s been with John, her husband, she’ll say, “We’ve been together for dog’s ages.”

John and Erin met while working at Alternatives Industry in Oneida almost 12 years ago. A mutual friend, Jennifer Eaton, introduced them. On May 3, John and Erin will celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

“I haven’t even thought about that (their first anniversary) yet,” exclaims John.

“What do you get for your first anniversary anyway?” asks Erin, crinkling her nose looking around the room and then at John.

“I think you get paper,” volunteered Suzanne Jones, a friend. Erin laughs and says she should get John a newspaper subscription to the local paper for his anniversary.

Madison Cortland ARC’s Service Coordination department enables people with developmental disabilities and their families to find, utilize and coordinate available resources an opportunities in the community on the basis of individual need.

For John and Erin, that meant getting married, finding a home together and living independently.

When the couple met almost 12 years ago, John worked in the Food Processing Department at Alternatives Industry (AI). “I did whatever they needed me to do,” said Erin, who worked in the manufacturing and product assembly areas of AI. They often lunched together in the break room. It took a while to get to know one another. They started dating in 1997, and they would go to movies, and fun events at Madison Cortland ARC. Erin and John were separated for a while when she lived in Cortland. “We missed each other,” John said. So, when Erin moved back to the area, they resumed their relationship. The couple was engaged in December of 2007.

Erin giggles as she remembers how John proposed. “He gave me a ring and said, ‘is that the one you wanted?’ He didn’t even get down on one knee or anything!”

They were married at St. Paul’s Church in Oneida and their reception was at Dibbles Inn in Vernon. Erin laughs as she remembers one funny moment at their reception when John was looking for the garter belt and looked up the wrong leg. They honeymooned in Cape Cod.

Michelle Waterman, John and Erin’s Service Coordinator, says that with the help of Madison Cortland ARC, John and Erin found a nice home.

“It took a while to find this one,” remembers Erin.
“Everything had to be just right,” said Robin Collins because of state safety regulations regarding housing for people with disabilities. Collins along with Suzanne Jones were the couple’s service coordinators during the time when John and Erin decided to live on their own.

Through Madison Cortland ARC, the couple now receives at-home residential habilitation which assists them in doing daily tasks. They get help organizing bills, and other home budgeting tasks.

“We are pretty independent.” Erin says with a smile, of the life she shares with her husband.

As a testament to that independence, Erin represents Madison County on a newly formed Self-advocacy committee in Madison County called “The Madison County Motivators.” She was nominated and is currently running for President of that committee.

Prior to joining that committee, Erin was asked to fill a paid position serving on the DSO/Madison County Self Advocates Advisory Committee.

She has long been interested in advocacy work for individuals with developmental disabilities. “I’m excited to work with other advocates at the state level.”

They also are a busy couple. When they are not working and taking care of their home, they are traveling. The happy couple loves to take trips to see NASCAR races.

“What are we doing this year?” she asks John as they settle in on the couch. They are taking a NASCAR trip, and a cruise with two close friends. The NASCAR trip will take them to races in Loudon, New Hampshire and the Poconos.
John is undecided over who his favorite race car driver is. “Probably Dale Earnhardt, Jr.” said Erin with a playful sarcasm.

The upcoming cruise this summer will be their first cruise. They are still deciding on a destination. Erin recently flew to Tennessee to see her mom. That was her first airline flight.

They have grown together over the last 12 years together. John now works at Express Mart and Canastota Library as maintenance staff. Erin is a library assistant at the library…Sometimes they work the same shifts. “We often have lunch together,” Erin said.

Does the happy couple have any advice for those who are still single and newly married couples? You bet.

To newlywed couples, John says, “Try to do the best that you can. Just like we do.”

Erin’s advice to women: “There’s lots of fish in the sea so choose wisely.”

For more information on programs and services offered at Madison Cortland ARC, call 363-3389 or visit madisoncortlandarc.

Jolene Cleaver is the Community Development Coordinator at Madison Cortland ARC.

CATEGORY: General Society
EDITION: Oneida Press