Day by day…

Happy Anniversary Debbie! 

This Saturday will mark 49 years together.  That is 17,885 days!  A significant amount of time to be with one’s significant other, true? 

In reality it’s been more than 17,885 days.  We met in the 7^th grade and started dating in 1970.  I knew early on that she was the one.  Then on that day; March 19^th, 1973; two high school sweethearts eloped.  I was twenty, she was just a teenager. 

Many of you are in long-lasting relationships; many have been married longer than we.  A Mile High Salute to you!  Maybe our relationship thrived because I was a “Road Warrior”.  A colleague of mine once said:           

     The secret to a long marriage is a husband that travels. 

                        Lisa Kwiecien 

I enjoy writing about my wife frequently.  Like any couple, we have our good days and our not-so-good days.  Like many couples, we’ve also had some of those relationship-testing; foundation-rattling; we’re-not-going-to-make-it; kind of days.   When those days occurred we followed James P. Owen’s advice: 

     When you’re riding through hell… keep riding. 

Any meaningful ride is like that, don’t you think?  Even one of America’s most famous sweethearts offered this guidance on life’s journey: 

Pain nourishes courage.  You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you. 

                        Mary Tyler Moore 

Our journey together has had pain; it has also had life’s most wonderful experiences!  This year we are prepared for the next wonderful experiences to come - I retired from the full time work as a salesman and now will be a full time husband.  It will be the first time I am full time as my wife’s husband.  I hope that doesn’t cause her any pain HaHa! 

Throughout our marriage I’ve tried to pay attention to the little things that make a difference day by day; lighten my wife’s daily load a bit. Some days I did; other days I didn’t.  Nonetheless, we have enjoyed our love day by day for many, many days and hopefully many more days to come.  We’d like each day to be a good day.  Rob Gilbert offers this advice: 

How to have a Winning Day: 

You have to listen more than you talk…

You have to smile more than you frown…

You have to be fascinated more than you're frustrated…

You have to believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself.

You have to work more than you whine.

You have to do more than you don't.                               

 I will also pay attention to my boundaries:

Men ordering custom colors must first bring in a note from their wife.  

Guiry Paint Store 

It’s OK; she’ll writes the notes; I’ll run the errands; we’ll make a great team.  And on those occasional occasions where disagreement looms, I will heed Harlan Miller’s advice: 

Often the difference between a successful marriage and a mediocre one consists of leaving three or four things a day unsaid.                                 

17,885 days and our love train is still rolling strong - pulled along by my significant other.  No matter our future course; no matter the challenges we will face; the trials that will test us; our love train will continue.  Not even the weather will deter us.  Whether the wind is filling our sails from behind or blowing hard; pummeling us in the face; Etheridge Knight’s words will be our guide: 

Love is a rock against the wind. 

Happy 49^th Anniversary Dear!  You are my rock and I love you. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.