Five years ago, I wrote a blog post about what was about to come. I was getting married the next day. I was optimistic and hopeful about the future. I was aware of the challenges we faced, too. Nothing about marriage is easy and I knew that. You can read that post here.
Today is my five-year anniversary with Beverly Douglas. I couldn’t be happier and wouldn’t change a thing.
Not that everything is perfect or has been straight out of a story book. There are no fairy tales here. A few days ago, we sat in the living room talking, and laughing, about the challenges we’ve faced together since we said “I do.” Just a few days after we got home from our honeymoon, and we were barely moved in together, the derecho blew through and knocked out the power. For nearly a week. It was a hot and sweaty week, too. It even included Bev’s high school reunion.
Since that inauspicious beginning, we’ve lived through the water crisis (we had power, but no water for a week), floods, surgeries, family issues, victories and defeats, family vacations and a series of daily challenges. We’ve gotten frustrated with each other and even mad a couple times.
But here’s the thing. We kept laughing, too. And we never stopped. Even when the jokes were bad, they kept coming. There are lots of inside jokes around the house that are sort of code words that help us remember to keep laughing and to love and support each other.
I am not about to pretend to have all the answers to a healthy marriage. Or any of them, really. Nor am I going to suggest that what works for us will work for anyone else. All I am saying is that I hope we have about 10 more five-year anniversaries.
Thank you, Beverly Douglas, for a great first five years. I love you, babe. Most.
Happy anniversary!