Beginnings.....

Saturday we attended a wedding.

A lovely beginning for a bride and groom about to start this adventure called marriage.

We've known the groom since he was in diapers and he is our godson. He is a kind, thoughtful, funny, loving man and deserves nothing but happiness with his new wife. We don't know his wife well (yet!) but she seems like a wonderful woman. And judging by her father's toast at the reception, she is an exceptional and accomplished individual.....and will make a loving life-partner for Jason.

There is always something happy and exciting about a wedding - the "newness" of it all. While at the reception we sat at a table with a couple we haven't seen in almost 20 years. It was fun to re-connect. At one point, Doug asked me why I thought Dave and I were still married after 46 years. Seems these long marriages are not that common anymore. I gave him some silly answer, but have been thinking about his question ever since.

And my final response is "I really don't know!" We met in college, married mid-way through our senior year, graduated, had our first child 13 months after our wedding day and then.....day by day....year by year....we just built a marriage. I know that there were days/weeks/months and perhaps even longer periods of time where I wondered "what the heck IS this....and I don't want to continue THIS for another 20 years". Then that rough patch would pass and I'd look back and wonder...."What was that all about?"

One reason we are still together is that Dave continued to love me and support me....even when I was not very loveable. And then the reverse would occur...and I would be there for him. It's what we did, year after year, until here we are....46 years and counting!

So to my dear godson and his new bride....may you have many happy years together. We wish you laughter and joy. We wish you strength for the times you need to dig deep and support one another.....and there will be those times.  We wish you adventure! We wish you many, many years together so that someday you will page through your wedding photos and say "Look who we were! And look who we've become together!"

Cheers.....here's to YOU!