December 17th, 2021

Yup That's Tim and I.  I know you already saw this photo but it's being reprised here today because tomorrow is our anniversary!  Twenty-eight years together ;)  Woohoo!   

We've been through a lot together in those 28 years too.  We've lived in three different states and six different addresses.   Together we watched 3 boys hit big time milestones like:  learning to drive, sweating out final exams, graduating, fall in that same kind of forever love and buy their own homes.

We have done a  lot of exciting and wonderful travelling to places like: the island of Cuacao; Cancun, Mexico and Maui, Hawaii.  We went on one fabulous cruise and travelled domestically, extensively.  Las Vegas, Santa Fe, New Orleans, Washington DC,  San Diego and San Francisco.  The toured the Florida Keys and Amish Country in Pennsylvania.  We climbed mountains in Colorado,  rediscovered American History in Boston,  and ate ice cream in Vermont at the Ben & Jerry's factory.  We hunted for gems in New Hampshire, sea glass on the beaches of Maine and interesting things to do  off season at Lake Winnipesaukee.  

In the past twenty-eight years we have each had a number of different jobs.  I believe I've had 4 different jobs and five different volunteer gigs in those 28 years and times when I had no job at all.  I just realized that Tim has also worked at 4 different places since we've been married and he also completed his Marine Corp commitment.  None of those job changes happened without a least a bit of anxiety, a dollop of challenge, a  pinch of stress but we each stood by the other and picked up the slack whenever it was dropped without complaint.

We supported each other through the loss of each of our parents, a few friends and far too many beloved pets.  Each of us in turn felt safe being vulnerable in our grief because the other one stood even stronger to make up for it.  There was no impatience during our bereavements only the understanding that it takes however long it takes to get to the other side and the only question asked was, what can I do to help you through.

We've had crushing disappointments and wonderful surprises, unexpected bumps in the road and equally unexpected windfalls.  Sometimes one of us might be quiet and introspective for a bit while the other one stands by patiently waiting.  Other times one of us might be a little head in the clouds, floating on dreams so the other one holds tight so that we don't drift away.

When things aren't going well, I only need to hear Tim tell me that "it will be ok" for me to know without doubt that things will eventually be sorted out and we will be back on track.  We prop each other up, we stand one another without question, we have each other's backs.  There is no hesitation and no doubt.  Our attitude is always, "If it's important to you, it's important to me". 

I can honestly say that we love each other even more now than we did when we married, one week before Christmas, in the living room of my tiny apartment, in front of 13 people and a Christmas Tree.  We chose to speak the traditional vows: to love, honour and cherish each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in good times and in bad.  We didn't say those words lightly.  We meant every word, every syllable and will continue to for every moment that we have together on this earth.

He is my rock, my anchor, my touchstone in this life.  I still feel a little zing when he walks through the door.  We do small things for each other all day, every day and occasionally we will make a grand gesture.  We look past the small annoying things and focus on the more important wonderful qualities of each other.   We laugh a lot, we cry a little, we talk, we dream and then we laugh some more.  

Separately or together we are far from perfect, but we are perfect for each other.  And apparently that's how it works being happily married for twenty-eight years.  

Happy Anniversary to us!