42 Years!

Today or later today I should say...Big R and I will celebrate in some wee way our 42 years of marriage...tied the knot in Cleveland Ohio at my parent's church. Altho we wanted a back yard summer wedding...we had an indoor church wedding in the winter and more to my mom's wishes than ours! She had wanted a church wedding but her mom was ill with cancer so her aunt dictated the wedding which took place in my mom's home. Funny how she then insisted on dictating ours! But, in retrospect, that doesn't really matter now...we can laugh at some of what went on, feel sad my mom wore two right shoes that were mail ordered. Sad that she felt she had to "follow" so many etiquette rules for the "event". It was really so unlike her.

Many moons later we celebrate all that we have shared ...the good, the bad and the ugly ha ha. There were tough times economically when we had only my 7/11 job to rely on...times when living in Detroit post the riots were harsh and the streets were "mean". Fascinating Detroit neighborhood times when neighbors were truly close and you knew each other well...times and tales shared from working together in civil rights in Virginia and as volunteers in VISTA in the early seventies. Times from our youthful days when mistakes were made and risks taken we'd never do now...but I'm glad we did then ....when we seemingly knew no better. Many parental warnings were shrugged off as we went on marches against the war, we traveled to strange places and lived with "strange" people to join struggles for the "good" cause. So many stories we have accumulated TOGETHER. The greatest of memories the birth of our son Martin...raising him together....seeing him blossom and grow into the fine loving young man and husband he is today...and seeing him marry the love of his life....all good memories shared TOGETHER.

It's certainly NOT all been a bed of roses....marriage is NOT ...it's immensely hard work...a real commitment of LOVE and knowing that walking the path TOGETHER really is richer. It's those shared memories...the history you have made TOGETHER that truly cements your relationship. There are many ways it can or could go and you make choices...you steer the way so often by the choices you make TOGETHER.

Now it's onward ...more choices to make....retirement looming over us both and plans to make for the future ....some decisions will be ours...some will be made for us. Whatever the future holds...I know we will make decisions with love...and the strength we have from lasting this long TOGETHER!!!

I love you Big R and this one I dedicate to YOU! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!