Happy Anniversary

Last night as we lay in bed, we reminded each other that today is our wedding anniversary. I was complimenting you on hanging in there for fifty-three years. I added the tagline, “So far!”

“You always say that,” you protested.

And you’re right. It’s my timeworn joke: we never make the claim that we will be married forever. After all, weren’t we married as children? Haven’t we struggled? Haven’t there been doubts? Hasn’t anger convinced one or the other of us in the midst of a fight that we should end it all. Haven’t we each, in the middle of the night, been sure that this is all a mistake? Haven’t we stayed together because of the children? Because of the financial repercussions? Because we fear change? Because of circumstances that made it impossible to extricate ourselves from this lifelong partnership?

The joke has ended. In lieu of a card, my love, here are my hallmark (pun intended) lines, borrowed from Raymond Carver…

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

Thank you, beloved Husband, for cherishing me. Thank you for sharing this rich history we have created.  Our young selves could never have imagined such a deep and continuing love; forever was so long then.  May it be much longer…together.

xxoo