Saturday, May 17, 2008

We Are Thirty-Nine

One can hardly fathom, where the time goes, but Cuppa and I are thirty-nine today. Just as it was all those years ago, it was the rainy Saturday of our May long weekend. Of course, at the time one barely noticed in the hubbub of a wedding, reception and getaway.

We were married in Toronto and spent our one official honeymoon night (yes, one whole night!) in Stratford where I had proposed a year earlier in the Shakespeare Country Garden after we had seen Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream: not that the play had spurred my proposal, for I had pretty well decided on the timing, and the garden seemed a romantic spot.

My heart was pounding, but I'm not sure why. It wasn't as though marrying this girl frightened me in any way or that I expected her to refuse. Nevertheless, it's a once in a lifetime occurrence, and one wants it to go well. Poor Cuppa thought that I was about to tell her that I had decided to leave her for a year or longer whilst I ventured to New Zealand. I had distant relatives there, and they had sent calendars and photo magazines over the years, and I had always thought that it would be a wonderful place to visit, long before Lord of the Rings may have increased its popularity as a destination. I still do think that it would be a grand place to experience, but I have no real hopes of ever getting there, and that's okay too. Some dreams pass or at least seem less important as time creeps forward.

In an poor and awkward segue, I do want to connect the old part of our story to a more recent one by referring to another trip, our holiday to the west coast last year around this time. We were walking around English Bay in Vancouver when I began to consider which of our vacations had been the greatest highlight. Was it The Rockies, The East Coast, Arizona? Cuppa was somewhat in front of me at the time, and I recall realizing that it was not a vacation that was the highlight of my life but that the wife of my youth and middle age and dawning old age was .... and is.

25 comments:

megz_mum said...

Happy Anniversary!

ChrisB said...

Congratulations and a very Happy Anniversary. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Jules said...

Happy Anniversary!!! I hope you have another wonderful 39 years...at least :)

Ginger said...

Aww, that's sweet! Happy Anniversary to you both!

JunieRose2005 said...

Happy, Happy anniversary to you both!

I enjoyed reading this little bit of your story!

Hope many more happy years are ahead for you two!


Junie

Rhea said...

A sweet story. Happy anniversary to you both!

Heather Plett said...

Happy Anniversary! I hope I can write a post like this in... oh... about twenty-four years!

Amanda said...

Happy Anniversary to you both!
It's our anniversary on the 22nd May. It's 9 years for us :-)

Love Amanda

karla said...

Warm wishes to you both. Happy Anniversary!

Sue said...

Happy anniversary to you both! Are you planning something extra-special for next year's 'ruby wedding' anniversary?

Donna said...

Have a Wonderful Anniversary!!!hughugs

Norma said...

You are so romantic. And many more.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to you both!
YOu are sentiment to what commitment, love and working on relationships can give you!
We'll have a blog party for the 40th!

Envoy-ette said...

I'm laughing because I'm older then you and don't think I'm ancient...YET! LOL How wonderful the woman you picked brings you such joy! Happy Anniversary!!!

Ginnie said...

Cuppa is a lucky, lucky woman ... but I'll bet she feels the same about you. HAPPY 39th and I hope you have MANY, MANY more.

Pearl said...

wow, long time together. that's a lot of road to share. glad you're still getting on well. to many more mutually enriching miles!

Pam said...

It's always nice to see a man with romance in his soul, you and Cuppa are an inspiration and proof that good and lasting marriages exist. Happy anniversary to you both with many more to come.

Re: your response to my dream post; I have those kinds of dreams often and they always lift my spirits. What's more, I often remember them vividly. In dreams I am whole and it feels wonderful. Last night I was riding a Clydesdale bareback, yippie kai yo kai yay!

Cathy said...

AC - That is just about the loveliest tribute imaginable. You and Cuppa are very special people.
Congratulations!
(Thanks for checking in on me. That hug was just what the doctor ordered.)

Ruth said...

Great story....and it's still being told. Belated happy anniversary and wishing you happy and healthy years ahead!

Woman in a Window said...

Soulmates...how wonderful...doesn't matter where you are, right, as long as you are together...
Happy Anniversary!

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

Congratulations and a Happy Anniversary. It is good to hear of a long and successful marriage, far too rare.

Janet said...

Congratulations! That's wonderful. My grandparents had almost 72 years together, and were soulmates to the end.

Linda said...

I must also leave a congratulatory note. Endearing and enduring love is wonderful

Gina said...

Happy belated anniversary to you both!

Anonymous said...

I am a little late.. but sending best wishes to both you and Cuppa. Such a heart warming love story.