Holy Matrimony

Today would have been my parents' 65th wedding anniversary.  While visiting my aunt and uncle in Manitowoc, Wisconsin last month, my aunt pointed out to me the place where my parents had been married.  I knew that they had been married at the Methodist Church's parsonage, but had never bothered to inquire just where that building was.  Come to find out, the parsonage was located just around the corner of the house where my aunt and uncle have lived for the past 50 years.  The place where Mom and Dad were married is no longer associated with the Methodist Church.  In fact, it's a beautifully kept private home.  But I had to look at it carefully anyway, taking in all of the details of its exterior.  When I got home from my trip, I looked at the photos taken on my parents' wedding day, each an exterior shot.  The location of their wedding is no longer just a vague place to me, a backdrop of photos I've seen all of my life, but a real address, a real building located across from a beautiful park.  Although they're no longer here to celebrate their special day, seeing the place where Dad and Mom were married gave me reason to celebrate.

Happy Together

Larry and I have been together for 20 years, but we finally tied the knot four years ago today.  Recently, while exiting church, I picked up some paper that was blowing around on the church grounds and found that it was a program from a wedding that had taken place there just the Saturday before.  According to the program, the bride and groom exited the ceremony to "So Happy Together" by The Turtles.  Just like the song's lyrics, I truly can't see me loving anybody -- but Larry.  He is the point to my counterpoint, the one who makes my life complete.  Larry is creative and calm, patient and quiet, philosophical and introspective, zany and serious.  Happy Anniversary, my love.  I'm so happy we're together.

My Man Larry

Today, Larry and I celebrate our wedding anniversary.  While we've been together for nearly 20 years, today marks our third wedding anniversary (we were very slow to make the commitment plunge!).  Larry is a wonderful man and a loving, supportive husband.  I can't imagine my life without him and I can't imagine how I could've been so lucky as to have attracted such a pleasing lifemate.  My friend Melanie calls him The Sage, for Larry is wise and his advice (when requested; he doesn't just offer his opinions without being asked) is sound.  I go to Larry with all issues and problems, big and small.  He has stood by me during multiple illnesses and was kind beyond measure to my mother, in good health and during her dying process.  Our wedding anniversaries have been strange celebrations.  The first year, I was recovering from a serious illness and I felt lucky just to be celebrating our first anniversary together.  Last year, our second anniversary was spent at the funeral home for the visitation preceding my mother's memorial service.  This year, Larry is on his way home from having been away on business, so he's kind of an absentee participant. Truly, though, our anniversary is but a day.  The real celebration is having Larry in my life 365 days a year.  Happy Anniversary, my dear Larry!  I look forward to many more wonderful years with you.