Ever since that first September 29th, that number has been special, but I could never have imagined making it all the way to 29 years. I mean, when you're young, you imagine forever and when you say, "I Do" it's supposed to mean forever, but that passage of time has a way of changing people, circumstances, and perception. We're definitely not the same people now we were back then. Hell, I'm almost a whole person heavier at this point. There are lines on our faces and gray in our hair and though we still passingly resemble the photos from back then, we're not the naive teenagers we once were.
Through the past 29 years, we've seen quite a bit of change and growth and I believe we're stronger in spite of all of it. I have a hard time believing that I'd change anything about the past 29 years because all of those decisions, all of that "experience" still has me with you by my side and I don't want that to change through 29 more years or 29 more decades. I loved you back then, I love you now, and I'll love you for always.
And though I usually close with song lyrics, I thought I'd put a little spin on this special year by using song lyrics for all 29 of our years.
29 - 1993 “Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know you do. Possible she want you too, there is one way to ask her. It don't take a word, not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl.”
29 - 1994 “With your arms open wide, want you here by my side. Come to me. Darlin' rescue me.”
29 - 1995 “I want a new life. And I want it with you. If you feel the same, don't ever let it go. You gotta believe in the spirit of love. It'll heal all things.”
29 - 1996 “Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabies go on and on. They never die. That's how you and I will be.”
29 - 1997 “And even if they have to run away, she's gonna marry that boy someday.”
29 - 1998 “Between now and then til I see you again I'll be loving you. Love, me."
29 - 1999 “If he poured his heart into a glass and offered it like wine, she could drink and be back in time for the morning papers.”
29 - 2000 “Now everyone knows just how much I needed that gal. She wouldn't have gone far away If only you'd started ringing your bell.”
29 - 2001 “Some people search forever, for that one special kiss. I can't believe it's happening to me.”
29 - 2002 “When I look back, I will always recall. Moment for moment, this was the moment. The greatest moment of them all."
29 - 2003 “Why be alone when we can be together, baby? You can make my life worthwhile. I can make you start to smile.”
29 - 2004 “A whole new world; with new horizons to pursue. I'll chase them anywhere. There's time to spare. Let me share this whole new world with you.”
29 - 2005 “Now some people say, ‘Happiness takes so very long to find.’ Well, I'm finding it hard leaving your love behind me.”
29 - 2006 “'Cause when we were together, it made the dream come true. If I had only one friend left, I'd want it to be you.”
29 - 2007 “Let the love I have for you live in your heart and beat forever (together my love). Forever."
29 - 2008 “One day our generation is gonna rule the population. So, we keep on waiting (waiting). Waiting on the world to change.”
29 - 2009 “Now I understand. You've always been the one who stood out from the crowd. You're my inspiration.”
29 - 2010 “Huh, it's hard to believe, but you're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times. So, take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this."
29 - 2011 “More than words is all I ever needed you to show. Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me, 'cause I'd already know.”
29 - 2012 “Marry me a little, body, heart, and soul. Passionate as hell.”
29 - 2013 “Strong and wild, slow and easy. Heart and soul, so completely. I love the way you love me.”
29 - 2014 “When there's age around my eyes, and gray in your hair. And it only takes a touch to recall the love we shared.”
29 - 2015 “And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways. Maybe just the touch of a hand. Oh, me I fall in love with you every single day.”
29 - 2016 “We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in, and I'll look at you and say, ‘And I thought I loved you then.’”
29 - 2017 “When the span of forever just never seems long enough. That's how you know it's love.”
29 - 2018 “I don't need eyes to see the love you bring to me. No matter where I go and I know that you'll be there. Forever more a part of me, you're everywhere.”
29 - 2019 “You're a saint, you're a goddess, the cutest, the hottest, a masterpiece. It's too good to be true, nothing better than you in my wildest dreams. And I know that I can't ever tell you enough that all I need in this life is your crazy love.”
29 - 2020 “As long as we live, it's you and me baby. There ain't nothin' wrong with that.”
29 - 2021 “They said, ‘I bet they'll never make it.’ But just look at us holding on. We're still together, still going strong. You're still the one I run to. The one that I belong to. You're still the one I want for life. (You're still the one). You're still the one that I love. The only one I dream of. You're still the one I kiss goodnight.”
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
28 Years
At the 14 year mark, I mentioned that it was just a small piece of the lifetime we have left together. Well, we've doubled that now and I still feel the same way. We may not have a perfect marriage, but we are perfect for each other. You complement me in ways that I wouldn't have even considered when I told you “yes” all those Tuesdays ago sitting at the stop light in Bentleyville. And though I wish that particular night had played out just a bit differently, the outcome would have been exactly the same and it has remained unchanged since that night. And, as far as I'm concerned, it never has to change and I know it never will.
28 years ago, it was a Tuesday and it is a Tuesday again with roughly 456 Tuesdays in-between.
28 years and it is starting to take almost that long to prep for these lists.
28 years is creeping up on three decades and it is hard to reconcile that passage of time.
28 years is older than musicians Camila Cabello, H.E.R., and Finneas O'Connell though we don't have 14 Grammy nominations and eight trophies for our time.
28 years and my love for you is absolutely undimmed through the years.
28 years by my side and in my heart.
28 years seeing life through your eyes and enjoying it immensely.
28 years and no matter what language you want to say it in, it is love.
28 years and circumstances brought our family even closer together this year.
28 years of mixing, matching, and making up when necessary.
28 years and though our paths cross, intersect, diverge, and rejoin with others, we've walked the same one together.
28 years and our oldest is ready to drive?!?
28 years would have likely seen a mini vacation for our anniversary, but our staycation will be just as special.
28 years with our two hearts intertwined and beating as one.
28 years and even though our wedding vows weren't spoken that day, we've certainly lived as though they were.
28 years and even though we hit the female teenage years next year officially, I think we've been living through them for the past 28.
28 years proving that together we will overcome any challenge.
28 years of ups, downs, and even some weird sideways stuff we've always come out on top.
28 years of our own fairy tale because we're way past "Once upon a time," but still living "Happily ever after."
28 years and though not everything may go according to plan, we can always plan on each other.
28 years and our youngest is now double digits.
28 years though we haven't been able to completely carry on traditions exactly, we've adapted really well.
28 years and I can't imagine any of the 10,227 days without you.
28 years of still getting that little rush when I see you.
28 years of aged experience falling in love over and over.
28 years of being the other half to a relationship I couldn't live without.
28 years and still willing to try new things and laugh with each other when they don't quite work as planned.
28 years and who knows how many more to come.
I love you now Teresa more than I loved you then and I'll love you more tomorrow than I do today.
"Now I understand. You've always been the one who stood out from the crowd, you're my inspiration."
"You could have done something, but you didn't try. You didn't do nothing. You let her walk by."
"We mighta took the long way. We knew we'd get there someday."
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you, Love, me."
28 years ago, it was a Tuesday and it is a Tuesday again with roughly 456 Tuesdays in-between.
28 years and it is starting to take almost that long to prep for these lists.
28 years is creeping up on three decades and it is hard to reconcile that passage of time.
28 years is older than musicians Camila Cabello, H.E.R., and Finneas O'Connell though we don't have 14 Grammy nominations and eight trophies for our time.
28 years and my love for you is absolutely undimmed through the years.
28 years by my side and in my heart.
28 years seeing life through your eyes and enjoying it immensely.
28 years and no matter what language you want to say it in, it is love.
28 years and circumstances brought our family even closer together this year.
28 years of mixing, matching, and making up when necessary.
28 years and though our paths cross, intersect, diverge, and rejoin with others, we've walked the same one together.
28 years and our oldest is ready to drive?!?
28 years would have likely seen a mini vacation for our anniversary, but our staycation will be just as special.
28 years with our two hearts intertwined and beating as one.
28 years and even though our wedding vows weren't spoken that day, we've certainly lived as though they were.
28 years and even though we hit the female teenage years next year officially, I think we've been living through them for the past 28.
28 years proving that together we will overcome any challenge.
28 years of ups, downs, and even some weird sideways stuff we've always come out on top.
28 years of our own fairy tale because we're way past "Once upon a time," but still living "Happily ever after."
28 years and though not everything may go according to plan, we can always plan on each other.
28 years and our youngest is now double digits.
28 years though we haven't been able to completely carry on traditions exactly, we've adapted really well.
28 years and I can't imagine any of the 10,227 days without you.
28 years of still getting that little rush when I see you.
28 years of aged experience falling in love over and over.
28 years of being the other half to a relationship I couldn't live without.
28 years and still willing to try new things and laugh with each other when they don't quite work as planned.
28 years and who knows how many more to come.
I love you now Teresa more than I loved you then and I'll love you more tomorrow than I do today.
"Now I understand. You've always been the one who stood out from the crowd, you're my inspiration."
"You could have done something, but you didn't try. You didn't do nothing. You let her walk by."
"We mighta took the long way. We knew we'd get there someday."
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you, Love, me."
Sunday, September 29, 2019
27 Years
27 years
It gets harder to find new words to describe our old relationship, yet it never gets hard to figure out why I still have a relationship with you. You've meant everything to me. You are in my thoughts and dreams when I'm not near you and I love to keep you in my sight when we are together. We've gone from being kids to having kids. It seems mind boggling to me that you were 15 when we started dating and now 27 years later, we have a 15-year-old son. But regardless of whether I can find the right words or, in some cases, any words at all to tell you how much I love you, you need to understand that I do love you. I loved you then, I love you now and I'll continue loving you far, far into the future. As I look back over some of these posts, the specific memories of those years will flash through my mind and it's like watching the best movie scenes over and over again. And that's how I'll always feel about us...like we're in our movie and as long as I follow the advice of Williams, Ascher, and Henson we can keep writing our own ending. We can keep believing and keep pretending and we will set out to do just what we intended to do...love each other forever and always.
27 years of more than 850 billion seconds of stolen glances.
27 years with more than 15 years watching our family's love grow.
27 years of holding hands in public watching people stare.
27 years of reflecting back while looking forward to what else is ahead of us.
27 years and though people just accept that you are still with me, they still ask...why?!?
27 years and no matter what gets thrown our way, we know we'll be in it together.
27 years of random decision generation knowing that the one definite yes changed everything else.
27 years and we've outlasted so many fads, it's hard to research them all.
27 years and we've experienced every emotion possible and then some.
27 years and you're as beautiful to me now as you were then and as you always have been.
27 years and I've discussed almost every topic of our lives in one of these and yet we still seem to discover new things about each other.
27 years and though we still feel like we fake being adults most days, I think we've carved out a pretty good life for our little family unit.
27 years with a love that exponentially expands until infinity still doesn't seem long enough to have you by my side.
27 years and we still love to do things now that we did back then yet have no issues trying new things together.
27 years and we've found our way to love each other. It isn't like anyone else's and yet it will last us through the rest of our days and beyond.
27 years of dinners alone, dinners with family, dinners with friends, and looking across the table from you still seems like that first time almost three decades ago.
27 years and that random chain of events leading to a Friday night date is probably the best example of fate I'll ever see.
27 years and we can easily find each other in a crowd (and not just by the sound of keys).
27 years of going from a duet, to a trio, to a quartet, to a quintet and then adding pets on top of that craziness.
27 years and no matter what language you translate it into you, our passage of time speaks of love.
27 years passing through high school, college, grad school, adulting, and now we're back to high school and thinking of college again.
27 years and as we found out in our recent scrunchy "discussion" everything old is new again and again and again.
27 years and though I've used the fact that you amaze me before, there's just no easier way to describe that breath taking feeling of seeing you dressed up to go out with me.
27 years and we're closer in age to 50 than we'd like to admit, but still acting like teenagers in terms of our love.
27 years is the passage of time for the Loser's club to reunite, but we'll continue to stay together and remember our love without the crazy clown.
27 years and a hug from you still brightens and highlights my day.
27 years and I'd instantly do it all again with you.
So, to 27 years and beyond honey. I love you now and I’ll love you more tomorrow.
“When I first saw you, I saw love. And the first time you touched me, I felt love. And, after all this time, you’re still the one I love.”
“When I look back I will recall, moment for moment, this was the moment. The greatest moment of them all.”
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me."
It gets harder to find new words to describe our old relationship, yet it never gets hard to figure out why I still have a relationship with you. You've meant everything to me. You are in my thoughts and dreams when I'm not near you and I love to keep you in my sight when we are together. We've gone from being kids to having kids. It seems mind boggling to me that you were 15 when we started dating and now 27 years later, we have a 15-year-old son. But regardless of whether I can find the right words or, in some cases, any words at all to tell you how much I love you, you need to understand that I do love you. I loved you then, I love you now and I'll continue loving you far, far into the future. As I look back over some of these posts, the specific memories of those years will flash through my mind and it's like watching the best movie scenes over and over again. And that's how I'll always feel about us...like we're in our movie and as long as I follow the advice of Williams, Ascher, and Henson we can keep writing our own ending. We can keep believing and keep pretending and we will set out to do just what we intended to do...love each other forever and always.
27 years of more than 850 billion seconds of stolen glances.
27 years with more than 15 years watching our family's love grow.
27 years of holding hands in public watching people stare.
27 years of reflecting back while looking forward to what else is ahead of us.
27 years and though people just accept that you are still with me, they still ask...why?!?
27 years and no matter what gets thrown our way, we know we'll be in it together.
27 years of random decision generation knowing that the one definite yes changed everything else.
27 years and we've outlasted so many fads, it's hard to research them all.
27 years and we've experienced every emotion possible and then some.
27 years and you're as beautiful to me now as you were then and as you always have been.
27 years and I've discussed almost every topic of our lives in one of these and yet we still seem to discover new things about each other.
27 years and though we still feel like we fake being adults most days, I think we've carved out a pretty good life for our little family unit.
27 years with a love that exponentially expands until infinity still doesn't seem long enough to have you by my side.
27 years and we still love to do things now that we did back then yet have no issues trying new things together.
27 years and we've found our way to love each other. It isn't like anyone else's and yet it will last us through the rest of our days and beyond.
27 years of dinners alone, dinners with family, dinners with friends, and looking across the table from you still seems like that first time almost three decades ago.
27 years and that random chain of events leading to a Friday night date is probably the best example of fate I'll ever see.
27 years and we can easily find each other in a crowd (and not just by the sound of keys).
27 years of going from a duet, to a trio, to a quartet, to a quintet and then adding pets on top of that craziness.
27 years and no matter what language you translate it into you, our passage of time speaks of love.
27 years passing through high school, college, grad school, adulting, and now we're back to high school and thinking of college again.
27 years and as we found out in our recent scrunchy "discussion" everything old is new again and again and again.
27 years and though I've used the fact that you amaze me before, there's just no easier way to describe that breath taking feeling of seeing you dressed up to go out with me.
27 years and we're closer in age to 50 than we'd like to admit, but still acting like teenagers in terms of our love.
27 years is the passage of time for the Loser's club to reunite, but we'll continue to stay together and remember our love without the crazy clown.
27 years and a hug from you still brightens and highlights my day.
27 years and I'd instantly do it all again with you.
So, to 27 years and beyond honey. I love you now and I’ll love you more tomorrow.
“When I first saw you, I saw love. And the first time you touched me, I felt love. And, after all this time, you’re still the one I love.”
“When I look back I will recall, moment for moment, this was the moment. The greatest moment of them all.”
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me."
Saturday, September 29, 2018
26 Years
26 Years
When I look at us, I can see the passage of time creeping in on our lives. Little lines on our faces, my extra 20-50 lbs., some physical aches and pains, and, of course, the three constant reminders getting taller, more vocal, and so much wiser than I would have thought possible are pretty good lagging indicators. But yet, when I think about the past 26 years, I don't feel the passage of time in the same way. In my head, we're still young, learning how to fall in love with one another blissfully unaware that we're viewed as "incompatible" and "likely to fail." But then I think about all the leading indicators we've had over the past 26 years and I realize that while it is a serious chunk of time, we're still only at the beginning of our love and have so many more years to experience one another and this shifting globe around us.
I love you more and more each day dear. Happy Anniversary!
26 Years
26 years and we're shifting from silver and headed to gold.
26 years and we've got a high school freshman?!?
26 years and our relationship is older than Halsey, who was born on our second anniversary.
26 years of stopping and staring; often in amazement, occasionally in horror, but always with love.
26 years of memories; old, new, and those yet to be made.
26 years and so many different ways to communicate, but we still prefer eye to eye and face to face.
26 years and more than 13 million minutes that you've taken my breath away.
26 years and with our three children getting older, having the joy of introducing them to traditions for even more memories.
26 years of growing older, wiser, and in some cases, grayer together.
26 years of reflection on who we were and what our love has grown into.
26 years of locking ourselves away from the outside world to recharge together.
26 years and the musical soundtrack of our love now contains so many songs it is a box set.
26 years of gaining and sometimes losing friends and family, but keeping memories forever.
26 years and finding we still act more like that annoying couple who just got together vs. a relationship as old as Nick Jonas, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato (who were all born in 1992).
26 years of trusting and believing in our love without fail.
26 years of sappy public displays of affection making family and friends ill with a sugar rush.
26 years of being able to harness "the awesome burning power of love" to our benefit.
26 years of shared history, experiences, and emotions...though you cry way more at television shows and movies than I ever will.
26 years of keeping love grounded in the present while honoring our past and securing our future.
26 years of sharing breakfast, lunch, and dinner and more than the occasional dessert as evidenced by my spreading midsection.
26 years with unparalleled intimacy.
26 years of wondering why us, what makes us different, and then looking in your amazing eyes and finding the answer.
26 years and there may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but I've discovered millions of ways of staying with mine.
26 years of knowing we'll never be free of each other and being totally ok and emphatically on-board with that.
26 years with a tenderness together that can't be replicated.
26 years and yet we still find new ways to love each other and for that I'll be eternally grateful.
So, here's to 26 years, 26 more, 26 after that, and another 26 for good measure.
"You're still the one I run to. The one I that I belong to. You're still the one I want for life. You're still the one I love. The only one I dream of. You're still the one I kiss good night. I'm so glad we made it. Look how far we've come my baby."
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me."
When I look at us, I can see the passage of time creeping in on our lives. Little lines on our faces, my extra 20-50 lbs., some physical aches and pains, and, of course, the three constant reminders getting taller, more vocal, and so much wiser than I would have thought possible are pretty good lagging indicators. But yet, when I think about the past 26 years, I don't feel the passage of time in the same way. In my head, we're still young, learning how to fall in love with one another blissfully unaware that we're viewed as "incompatible" and "likely to fail." But then I think about all the leading indicators we've had over the past 26 years and I realize that while it is a serious chunk of time, we're still only at the beginning of our love and have so many more years to experience one another and this shifting globe around us.
I love you more and more each day dear. Happy Anniversary!
26 Years
26 years and we're shifting from silver and headed to gold.
26 years and we've got a high school freshman?!?
26 years and our relationship is older than Halsey, who was born on our second anniversary.
26 years of stopping and staring; often in amazement, occasionally in horror, but always with love.
26 years of memories; old, new, and those yet to be made.
26 years and so many different ways to communicate, but we still prefer eye to eye and face to face.
26 years and more than 13 million minutes that you've taken my breath away.
26 years and with our three children getting older, having the joy of introducing them to traditions for even more memories.
26 years of growing older, wiser, and in some cases, grayer together.
26 years of reflection on who we were and what our love has grown into.
26 years of locking ourselves away from the outside world to recharge together.
26 years and the musical soundtrack of our love now contains so many songs it is a box set.
26 years of gaining and sometimes losing friends and family, but keeping memories forever.
26 years and finding we still act more like that annoying couple who just got together vs. a relationship as old as Nick Jonas, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato (who were all born in 1992).
26 years of trusting and believing in our love without fail.
26 years of sappy public displays of affection making family and friends ill with a sugar rush.
26 years of being able to harness "the awesome burning power of love" to our benefit.
26 years of shared history, experiences, and emotions...though you cry way more at television shows and movies than I ever will.
26 years of keeping love grounded in the present while honoring our past and securing our future.
26 years of sharing breakfast, lunch, and dinner and more than the occasional dessert as evidenced by my spreading midsection.
26 years with unparalleled intimacy.
26 years of wondering why us, what makes us different, and then looking in your amazing eyes and finding the answer.
26 years and there may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but I've discovered millions of ways of staying with mine.
26 years of knowing we'll never be free of each other and being totally ok and emphatically on-board with that.
26 years with a tenderness together that can't be replicated.
26 years and yet we still find new ways to love each other and for that I'll be eternally grateful.
So, here's to 26 years, 26 more, 26 after that, and another 26 for good measure.
"You're still the one I run to. The one I that I belong to. You're still the one I want for life. You're still the one I love. The only one I dream of. You're still the one I kiss good night. I'm so glad we made it. Look how far we've come my baby."
"Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me."
Friday, September 29, 2017
25 Years
25 Years
25 years is a quarter of a century and when we started out on that fateful Tuesday night, neither of us would have even expressed thoughts of a quarter century. Hell, that span of time wasn't even part of our comprehension at that point. However, it's been that long and we've been together through it all and I wouldn't change a thing standing beside you.
25 years - a silver anniversary, but our time has been golden
25 years and not a day goes by where I don't feel our love
25 years and we've seen our relationship progress through a single decade, our pre-teen years, our teenage angst, driving a car, being able to vote, reaching legal drinking age, and now being able to rent a car. Wow, our relationship can do everything but the chores we hate.
25 years and though we're not young anymore, we're still young at heart
25 years and though we're still not beating The Simpsons, we've been together longer than NCIS and Friends combined
25 years and what few days we've spent apart during that time felt far longer than the whole of the 25 years
25 years and though the world fluctuates around us, we're still rock solid
25 years of different Monday and weekdays and holidays and everyday with you
25 years of shared experience in one heart and one soul
25 years and 300 monthly anniversaries during the 9,131 days of being together
25 years of making the mundane special just because we're together
25 years of side by side, up and downs, and all around
25 years with the last 13 years watching a bright inquisitive boy grow up before our eyes
25 years and 4 years after that watching his sister join the family with her own blend of Mommy and Daddy
25 years and 2 years after that rounding out the trio with the never ceasing young man
25 years of continuous amazement from all outside observers that we're still together
25 years and whatever that outside perception may be; inside our relationship we know
25 years of cuddling, hand-holding, hugs, and kisses that will go on for the rest of our lives
25 years and though it feels like we're still making up the whole adulthood/parenthood nonsense, at least we're sure about each other 25 years and the realization that we've been together longer than the entire Harry Potter phenomenon and our love clearly matches and exceeds that of Lily's
25 years and we know so much about each other and yet we're still able to surprise one another in so many ways
25 years of you being mine and me being yours and strolling leisurely through the years making up our happily ever after
25 years and you still have the ability to take my breath away
25 years and we're still in the honeymoon phase of our love
25 years and looking forward to 25 more and 25 more after that and, who knows, maybe 25 more after that. And it still wouldn't be enough.
“ They said ‘I bet they'll never make it,’ but just look at us holding on. We're still together still going strong.”
“Between now and then til I see you again, I’ll be loving you. Love, me”
I love you Teresa and I always will. Happy Anniversary!
25 years is a quarter of a century and when we started out on that fateful Tuesday night, neither of us would have even expressed thoughts of a quarter century. Hell, that span of time wasn't even part of our comprehension at that point. However, it's been that long and we've been together through it all and I wouldn't change a thing standing beside you.
25 years - a silver anniversary, but our time has been golden
25 years and not a day goes by where I don't feel our love
25 years and we've seen our relationship progress through a single decade, our pre-teen years, our teenage angst, driving a car, being able to vote, reaching legal drinking age, and now being able to rent a car. Wow, our relationship can do everything but the chores we hate.
25 years and though we're not young anymore, we're still young at heart
25 years and though we're still not beating The Simpsons, we've been together longer than NCIS and Friends combined
25 years and what few days we've spent apart during that time felt far longer than the whole of the 25 years
25 years and though the world fluctuates around us, we're still rock solid
25 years of different Monday and weekdays and holidays and everyday with you
25 years of shared experience in one heart and one soul
25 years and 300 monthly anniversaries during the 9,131 days of being together
25 years of making the mundane special just because we're together
25 years of side by side, up and downs, and all around
25 years with the last 13 years watching a bright inquisitive boy grow up before our eyes
25 years and 4 years after that watching his sister join the family with her own blend of Mommy and Daddy
25 years and 2 years after that rounding out the trio with the never ceasing young man
25 years of continuous amazement from all outside observers that we're still together
25 years and whatever that outside perception may be; inside our relationship we know
25 years of cuddling, hand-holding, hugs, and kisses that will go on for the rest of our lives
25 years and though it feels like we're still making up the whole adulthood/parenthood nonsense, at least we're sure about each other 25 years and the realization that we've been together longer than the entire Harry Potter phenomenon and our love clearly matches and exceeds that of Lily's
25 years and we know so much about each other and yet we're still able to surprise one another in so many ways
25 years of you being mine and me being yours and strolling leisurely through the years making up our happily ever after
25 years and you still have the ability to take my breath away
25 years and we're still in the honeymoon phase of our love
25 years and looking forward to 25 more and 25 more after that and, who knows, maybe 25 more after that. And it still wouldn't be enough.
“ They said ‘I bet they'll never make it,’ but just look at us holding on. We're still together still going strong.”
“Between now and then til I see you again, I’ll be loving you. Love, me”
I love you Teresa and I always will. Happy Anniversary!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
24 Years
24 Years
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more"
24 years that seem like 24 hours.
24 years with everyone groaning, "Oh, how long is it now?"
24 years and now our traditions have traditions.
24 years with so many "I love you"s that they can't possibly all be counted.
24 years with no routines, but a comfort level that allows us to be us.
24 years of sharing a bond strengthened day over day and year over year.
24 years with half of those watching our love outside ourselves in three small (and now, not so small) forms.
24 years with each year bringing a renewed sense of hope and love.
24 years is almost a quarter of a century.
24 years is older than The View, but not quite as old as The Simpsons.
24 years with new jobs, new careers, new companies, but still the two of us working as one.
24 years of living in the moment, but respecting the past and anticipating the future.
24 years of watching our family and extended family grow and love each other.
24 years of bumps in the road that have always had us landing side by side.
24 years of watching you from afar and still being amazed.
24 years of never losing sight of what's important to us.
24 years of hearing each other, but listening with our hearts.
24 years is 96 changes of season with everything coming back to fall where it all began.
24 years of having the complications of life melt in the simplicity of our love.
24 years of being aligned together in the best of ways.
24 years of refusing to give up on each other - no matter what.
24 years of never being insecure in our love and all that goes along with it.
24 years cemented into place sitting in a car at a red light with a simple yes.
24 years of saying yes to each other ever since.
I love you now and I'll love you always.
Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more"
24 years that seem like 24 hours.
24 years with everyone groaning, "Oh, how long is it now?"
24 years and now our traditions have traditions.
24 years with so many "I love you"s that they can't possibly all be counted.
24 years with no routines, but a comfort level that allows us to be us.
24 years of sharing a bond strengthened day over day and year over year.
24 years with half of those watching our love outside ourselves in three small (and now, not so small) forms.
24 years with each year bringing a renewed sense of hope and love.
24 years is almost a quarter of a century.
24 years is older than The View, but not quite as old as The Simpsons.
24 years with new jobs, new careers, new companies, but still the two of us working as one.
24 years of living in the moment, but respecting the past and anticipating the future.
24 years of watching our family and extended family grow and love each other.
24 years of bumps in the road that have always had us landing side by side.
24 years of watching you from afar and still being amazed.
24 years of never losing sight of what's important to us.
24 years of hearing each other, but listening with our hearts.
24 years is 96 changes of season with everything coming back to fall where it all began.
24 years of having the complications of life melt in the simplicity of our love.
24 years of being aligned together in the best of ways.
24 years of refusing to give up on each other - no matter what.
24 years of never being insecure in our love and all that goes along with it.
24 years cemented into place sitting in a car at a red light with a simple yes.
24 years of saying yes to each other ever since.
I love you now and I'll love you always.
Between now and then til I see you again, I'll be loving you. Love, me
Thursday, April 21, 2016
This Is What It Sounds Like When Doves Cry
I have loved music since birth. The emotions a lyric or snippet of music can evoke, the power to transport you directly to a moment in time, the bond between friends, and the sheer unbridled joy are just some of the benefits of music.
Growing up, for better or worse - depending on their tastes, your first exposure to music comes from your parents and family.
My father had my childhood steeped in the country roots of artists like Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Lynn Anderson, Dolly Parton, and Barbara Mandrell. My mother had the market cornered on girl groups and 70s soft rock in the form of The Lettermen, The Supremes, Captain and Tennille, the Carpenters, Donny and Marie, John Denver, and Barry Manilow.
At the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, I was discovering that music existed outside of what my parents listened to regularly. Seeing artists like Elton John on the Muppet Show and having my uncle introduce me to bands like Tears for Fears and the Police set me on my own musical discovery path. But it wasn't until the summer of 1984 when my older next door neighbor got a cassette of Purple Rain that something clicked. The blend of Rock, Pop, R&B, Funk, and Soul put together in ways I had never heard before instantly made me a fan and then some.
So many of Prince's songs form a backbone of my existence and memories that if I was trying to put together a soundtrack, I would find it a near impossible task to determine which songs made the final cut. There were a group of friends throughout high school who were just as enthralled with Prince's music. And though we've drifted in and out of each other's lives over the years, each and every one of them felt that same pain today. My facebook feed might as well have been covered in purple.
I could easily spend hours discussing his music, his influence, his eccentricities, and the ripple effect he's had on music in general. But when I try to articulate or even pinpoint what that's meant to me and my life, it's almost like trying to pick apart a piece of my own DNA. His music is so ingrained as a part of me and the gaping hole that's left has me stumbling in a haze since the news broke.
One of my colleagues is also a huge Prince fan and his approach was to flat out reject reality until he was ready to deal with it. We spent about twenty minutes comparing concert experiences, discussing the possibilities of what, if anything, could be in the vault and would it ever see the light of day, but no actual comprehension or acceptance.
My cousin Mary posted a poignant description of why artists and musicians passing away have an impact for those that have never met them. It ends with, "Artists have inspired us in endless ways and have been with us through stages in our lives. We've made memories with them. So when they die, a part of us dies." This absolutely resonated with me today throughout the twitter reactions, the facebook surfing, the google news alerts and various discussions with friends both near and far. There is a small part of me that will never hear his music the same way. The new melancholy attributed to lyrics that I've heard and sung along with so many times is very raw and sadly that too will change with time. I know now what April snow and springtime will remind me of for many many years in the future.
"God only knows where U are 2 night. Maybe time will tell me. Till then I'll close my eyes and say a prayer 4 U."
Rest easy O Purple One. I wish U love. I wish U heaven.
Prince Rogers Nelson 1958-2016 "And all good things, they say, never last."
