Friday, September 22, 2006

Anniversary


Today is our 27th anniversary. We met in 1974 when I was 16 and Eric was 18. We dated for five years, and finally married in 1979, then waited another seven years before we had Web, with Riley following two years later. It's been a wonderful 32 years of friendship and love.

Eric is a charming, funny, gentle and kind man with a killer smile and a sense of humor that keeps me laughing. He's been my best friend since the day we met - he knows everything about me and all my deepest thoughts. Though we have the bonds of friendship, love, marriage and parenthood that tie us together, most of all, he's the person I want to hang out with, and the guy I want to be holding my hand when I totter through the nursing home. He's not perfect - nor am I. We are both normal people who mess up on a regular basis, who sometimes struggle to find our way, who get tired and cranky and irritable. The good thing is that no matter what, the love lies just under the surface and that current of love runs through our daily lives and carries us through the rough patches. We've had a couple of low points in our time together, once so low I'd call it an abyss, but we've managed to find our way out each time. We complement each other, we ground each other and most of all, we love each other.

We've been married a long time. 27 years is hard to believe. I look at my parents - 51 years - and I find myself daydreaming about the day we celebrate 50 years. What do the next 23 years hold for us? Where will we be in 2029? I'll be 71 years old, Eric will be 73. Will we still be running? At 71, will I finally be taking my age group - as 1st of one? Who will our boys be with? Will there be grandchildren? Will we be retired or will we still be working? Will we still love each other? What will I look like at the age - will my hair be as white as my Mom's? Will both my boys be bald like my brothers? Will Eric's red hair have faded away to baldness? I wonder...

This has been a taper week. I followed up all the weekend running with rest and Pilates on Monday, 4.2 miles Tuesday, 3.1 on Wednesday, and 3 yesterday. Rest and Pilates today, then 10 miles tomorrow, 4 or 5 on Sunday, then probably 3 on Tuesday/Thursday next week with an extra day of rest on Wednesday. And then...it's off to Portland!

26 comments:

Wes said...

Happy, happy anniversary! Since I'll never catch you in the years, I long to follow in your footsteps!

Sarah said...

Happy Anniversary!

Donald said...

Congratulations on so many great years! Make the next 27 just as special.

tryathlete said...

Happy Anniversary to the both of you.

Anne said...

What a wonderful tribute to your lasting union. Hey, it was good enough to temporarily bring me out of blog-commenting hybernation!

Anonymous said...

Hey Buttercup!

I love you!

Buzz

Unknown said...

Ok, so I was in diapers when you met, but potty trained by the time you got married, I think.

Happy Anniversary!

Taunya said...

What a sweet post! Happy Anniversary. I do have a feeling you'll both be running when you reach your 50th!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Happy Anniversary.

Legs and Wings said...

That's quite a kiss! Good job to pull through the rough times - we all go through the dark part of marriage whether we admit it or not. I've been there but I'm here now...married nearly 20 years.

Being married is hard work. Celebrate and congrats!

Ryan said...

How sweet!! Have a great anniversary and I wish you another wonderful 27 years together!!

JustRun said...

Happy Anniversary to you two! The words in your post are beautiful and real and just what I hope to one day know.

Rose said...

Happy anniversary! What a lovely post. There aren't that many couples staying together anymore. Life is a journey that needs a trustworthy partner, and you certainly have yours.

Sarah Elaine said...

Happy anniversary! That post totally tugged at my heart strings. You're an inspiration and you deserve many more years of happiness together.

Jack said...

Happy belated anniversary! Beautiful post!!

Thomas said...

Happy Anniversary, and may the next 27 years be as good as the previous ones!

Anonymous said...

happy anniversary!

Anonymous said...

thanks for all the advice! i'm making a slow transition into it, though.. when a cafeteria is your primary food source, you can't be too picky!

ps: happy anniversary!

Olga said...

Very cute picture:)

D said...

What a nice post. Happy Anniversary.

psbowe said...

Happy anniversary!

Hopefully I'll see you in Portland!

susie said...

What a wonderful tribute! We all should be so lucky to be so in love:)
I can feel the goodness just emanating from your post....

Ben, aka BadBen said...

Congratulations, and many more!
- Bad Ben
(married for 28 years)

Joe said...

What a great post! I look forward to meeting you Saturday night in Portland...I'll bring some photos of my wife of 31 years!!

Enjoy the rest of taper week and let's have a great run Sunday!!

Dori said...

What a beautiful post. Happy Anniversary!

Dawn - Pink Chick Tris said...

Belated Happy Anniversary. :-)