31 May 2013

1980

May 31, 1980
"Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows; marriage does." ~ Groucho Marx


My wife and I have been married 33 years today. We committed matrimony in 1980, on the first day of a heat wave that lasted until October. The underpowered air conditioning in the church struggled to cope, and almost did.

She was radiant in a lovely white gown, and I (for a reason known only to God) was in a winter-weight white tux with tails.

Our reception that evening was in the city auditorium - a stand-alone gymnasium. And as is typical with a hot, muggy day in the Midwest, the evening was interrupted several times by power outages from the raging thunderstorm outside. The band, however, was quite good; they would wait for the power to come back up, and then kept on playing without missing a beat.

At one point, my new brother-in-law was so hot that he went out and just stood in the rain for awhile. When he came back in, he looked just as wet, but felt cooler. Meanwhile, my winter-weight tux was hot and equally sodden, although I'd long since shed the jacket.

My maternal grandmother was there, and danced several of us young bucks into the floor. I was strong as an ox in those days, a warehouse worker lifting 120-pound parcels all day. The others were mostly firefighters, and she outlasted all of us. She's been gone for nearly 30 years, but that memory will be with me until I'm gone, too.

There have been ups and downs, heartache, occasional pain, and many, many happy and glorious times. We've experienced the "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health", just like everyone else.

I was madly in love with her then, and am deeply in love with her now. She's my best friend, confidant, companion, and mother of my children. I cannot imagine life without her. She's a quiet woman, but a woman of deep feelings and surprising wit (at least for those who don't know her well). She's strong, independent and capable - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am truly a blessed man.

25 comments:

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

Well Happy 33 Anniversary To You and Your Sweet Wife. Enjoy this special day doing things together.
God Bless you and your beautiful wife.

Matt said...

+1 to Sandy.

irontomflint said...

Congratulations!
It's grand to hear that other couples are surpassing the quarter-century mark!
We'll reach twenty nine years of wedded bliss this October, If my sweet wife lets me live;)

DR said...

Congratulations!

ProudHillbilly said...

Congratulations and may many more happy days be in your future!

eiaftinfo said...

Congratulations to you both. Such love is rare today, nice to see burning so brightly in you two.

Stephen said...

Happy Anniversary, to you both. God bless each of you.

Rev. Paul said...

Sandy & Matt, thank you.

irontom, thank you - and congrats on 29 years; that's a big deal!

Thanks, DR. I trust you, SR, and all the assorted little Rs are doing well?

Thank you, PH.

eiaftinfo, agreed. Thanks!

Thank you, Stephen. I appreciate it.

Keads said...

Congratulations to you and your Rev!

On a Wing and a Whim said...

Congratulations to the both of you - that's quite a record, and quite a marriage.

May you two have many more years of love and laughter to come!

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, Kelly.

And thank you, Wing - I hope so, too!

OldAFSarge said...

Congratulations! May all your days be happy and your lives be truly blessed.

Jenny said...

Happy Anniversary!

Y'all are a darling couple. :)

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Congratulation and wishes for many more to come.

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, Sarge.

Gee, Jenny, you're turning my head - but thanks! :)

Thanks, WSF. I appreciate it.

Knucklehead said...

I'll add my congratulations also! By Better Two-Thirds and I are coming up on our 34th anniversary in August.

Bob said...

Happy Anniversary!

Rev. Paul said...

Knucklehead, thanks - and congrats to you, as well.

Thank you, Bob. :)

PioneerPreppy said...

Well spoken and congrats!!!

Moms Musings said...

Congratulations.

Home on the Range said...

What a wonderful day to celebrate. You have achieved what many fail to do, through love, forgiving each other as we are forgiven, sharing the joy and the pain.

That you are raising daughters who have you both as an example is even better.

Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!

What sideburns - and that 'stache!

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, Preppy, and you, Cathy.

Thank you, Brigid. It hasn't always been easy, but you know that. The thing is that we've never considered divorce as a option. Murder perhaps, but never divorce (BIG wink).

Thanks, Guffaw - and the hairstyle was perfectly in keeping with the times, as YOU well know. :^) Heh.

Borepatch said...

A couple days late, but happy anniversary!

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, sir!