ANTHONY and Destiny Rackham don't take life slowly.
From high school sweethearts to wedded bliss in just two years, the lovestruck teenagers say they couldn't be more blessed.
"It's crazy how fast it's all happened," said new bride Destiny from her Mount Isa home yesterday.
Fast indeed, and things will accelerate in three months when the pair reunite in Darwin to begin planning for a family.
The love lines of Anthony and Destiny (nee Wiperi) began at Mount Isa's Spinifex State College Senior Campus on January 18, 2010 - the day before Destiny's birthday.
"I guess it started as a crush, but it really was love at first sight," she said.
"Even so early on in our relationship we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.
"Our friends were surprised, but I feel so lucky having him in my life."
Destiny and Anthony, both 18, married in Mount Isa on January 5 this year, just before Anthony was deployed to Malaysia in his second year with the army.
His regular base is Darwin, and that’s where they plan to live when he returns permanently.
It’s a long way from the morning and afternoon walks to and from school when Anthony would stroll from his Happy Valley home of grandparents Dale and Alan Rackham, to Destiny’s home in Pioneer.
From there the pair’s hands would melt to be inseparable until the school bell.
Anthony was in Year 12 and Destiny a year behind.
Anthony joined the Army and the couple spent nearly 12 months apart while he trained as a rifleman in Singleton.
Destiny said Facebook and the telephone worked overtime and it was a good test for their relationship.
“It was hard being apart. We just wanted to be together again.”
In fact, their love got stronger and on a visit to Singleton, Destiny became the only girl in her high school sporting a wedding ring after he asked her to marry him.
That was August 2011. Was she the envy of her school friends?
“I guess I was.”
Destiny conceded their decision to marry was a hard one, not for themselves but in case others were hurt by them being so young.
Her parents also married young, she said, but that had no influence on Anthony and Destiny’s final decision to celebrate the occasion five months later with close family and friends.
During the next few months before Anthony returns to base, Destiny’s keeping herself busy with odd jobs and some photographic work.
But her life ahead is foremost in mind.
“I just keep thinking I want to be as close to him as I can,” she said.
“Thankfully he feels the same way.”
And as for children?
“We’ve talked about it, but we don’t want to have children until he comes out of the army,” Destiny said.
“Anthony said he doesn’t want to miss them growing up.”
“So probably in 3 to 4 years from now.
“I’m the one who plans and he’s the one that decides.
“Right from the start we just always knew we would go together forever.”
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