Wow! What A Ride!
Today - 25 years Ago.
May 13, 1989. Yup. The day we were married. River Place Country Club. Only a club and golf course back then. No houses. One road.
I think that was one of the last big rainstorms we had, too - aside from last night! Well, actually, one of the last most memorable storms. My dad forgot his bow tie-thingy (not really a bow tie, but a western version of that). He left the country club about an hour prior to the start of the wedding and 30 minutes after the wedding was supposed to start hadn't shown back up. The creeks were rising, the canyons flooding, and large softball size hail was falling from the sky. Dad was late - but not too late to have put one of the super-sized hail balls in the freezer for proof as to why a room full of people were anxiously awaiting his arrival. It was a "turd floater" as we call that kind of storm here in Texas. But right when we decided to go ahead and start the wedding (because everyone was running late - and rather drenched!) a double rainbow popped out over the canyon and behind the huge plate glass windows where we stood, and I knew God was shining down on our marriage.
And He continues to do so.
25 Years. The "big" Silver wedding anniversary. I remember when I was little, I used to think about those significant marriage milestones. What would my "husband-to-be" get me for those special "significant" anniversaries (like the years in between don't count???)
Year 1 is supposed to be "paper". I got a card. Year 5 is said to be "wood". Back then I guess it could have been a wooden water ski. Year 10 they say is "tin"? What? A beer can perhaps? 15 is "crystal". Hmm...not for me and never happened. 25. Silver. Now that might have potential.
But 25 years later the traditional milestone wedding gifts aren't quite so significant. Steve and I aren't very materialistic; I don't even wear my wedding ring much because of the sports I do. We buy the toys we enjoy and use when we decide to throughout the year (which is one of the things that is super fun being married to your best friend - doing so many activities together ;-) Thus, waiting for special occasions isn't really our style. And buying something just to "buy it" because you're "supposed to" is not that fun either, so "something silver" isn't really in the plan.
So my gift to you, Steve, is to do what you have been asking me to do for the past six months, and that is get back to my blog.
My Rock.
The first "day" we began dating, July 22, 1983, I knew there was something different about you. About a week later, I realized what it was - you were a ROCK. I couldn't rattle you, I couldn't shake you. No matter what the conditions, you were solid, stable, and grounded. My dear, you have not changed in 31 years. No matter what I throw at you; whatever I do, right, wrong, or indifferent; whatever I register for that you know will throw off our family plan for the next year (or 3 years ;-); whatever I've "gotten us into this time"; whatever I suggest, you don't waiver. You are my rock.
My Supporter.
You may not like it, but you support it. You may not agree with it, but you back it. I've never once had to ask you for "a pass" to participate. Frankly, you know "asking for a pass" is not who I am, but doing what I love and loving what I do is who I am. And you've never stood between the two. You stand behind that and know that's part of the package you married. If I were to ask first, I'm certain you'd clearly think something has gone wrong. You've followed me, cheered me on, stood in the heat for 12 hours (five times now ;-), cramped up, clammed up, champed up - to cheer me on. Neither of us aiming for podiums or results, but just chalking it up to accomplishment, determination, and personal growth. You followed me through a line item on my bucket list (well, we did get into a few subtitles we weren't expecting which added two additional years ;-) but we did it together and I will always cherish the sacrifices you made on my behalf. Check.
My Forgiver.
I have never been one of perfection. My flaws run deep and wide. But you have never poured salt into any of them. You have never waived them on a banner. You have taken them in stride and moved on. Even when they have effected us both, whether they've been something we could laugh at (like when I was in such a hurry I drove into Grandpa's carport and took the pole out to the point it was resting on his car); something we both should have cried at, but you never did; or something that hindsight would have produced an entirely different result for us and you never brought the view in the rearview mirror back up to me. Silent, stoic, and stealth. You have always loved me for who I am and the lessons I've learned through imperfection.
My Soul Mate.
You understand me. We share the same beliefs and loves. You know how I am wired. You don't question it. You don't compare it. You literally and wholly take me for "me". Is it because you really understand me? I doubt that; I don't completely understand me. Is it because you love me so much that you do? Possibly. But I believe you it's because you "respect" me for who I am, meaning you may not understand it, agree with it, or believe in it, but you respect me enough to take my beliefs, actions, intent, and purpose in stride as part of the whole package. I believe respect is as significant as love in a relationship, and a noun that many relationships lack. You know what makes me tick and you may not agree with it, but you respect it enough to allow it to "keep ticking".
My Friend.
For 31 years we have played, traveled, learned different sports, skied together (I wonder how many ski sets we have taken during the years??), worked out together, biked together (how many miles we've ridden?), run together? Not, just checking to see if you were really reading this! (However, if you will reflect back, there were about two weeks in July when we started dating and you were "courting" me that you'd run to Selma Hughes and back with me after we skied early mornings so we'd warm up - remember how COLD Lake Austin was back then??) We truly live life, love life, and enjoy it to its full extent together. We love God, our friends, our community, nature, what we can give it together, and most treasured, what it gives back to us. We do life together. And Life is Good.
My Brother.
You love me unconditionally and understand me spiritually. You do not critique me (thank goodness - as the list would go on and on!) You know me well enough to edge me forward. You know where my gifts, my passions, and my God-given platform lies. When I'm not using them, you nudge me; when I'm not sharing them, you urge me; when I'm sitting around complacent, you wonder why and ask me. You know that "my life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to slide in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - with my arms raised to the sky - WOW, What A Ride!"
My Husband.
Here's to the next 25+ years of our "Ride".
Till Death Do Us Part.
Period.
Happy 25th Anniversary (+6!), Steve! I wouldn't trade a day.
 |
| Kona Oct. 2013 |
I think that was one of the last big rainstorms we had, too - aside from last night! Well, actually, one of the last most memorable storms. My dad forgot his bow tie-thingy (not really a bow tie, but a western version of that). He left the country club about an hour prior to the start of the wedding and 30 minutes after the wedding was supposed to start hadn't shown back up. The creeks were rising, the canyons flooding, and large softball size hail was falling from the sky. Dad was late - but not too late to have put one of the super-sized hail balls in the freezer for proof as to why a room full of people were anxiously awaiting his arrival. It was a "turd floater" as we call that kind of storm here in Texas. But right when we decided to go ahead and start the wedding (because everyone was running late - and rather drenched!) a double rainbow popped out over the canyon and behind the huge plate glass windows where we stood, and I knew God was shining down on our marriage.
And He continues to do so.
25 Years. The "big" Silver wedding anniversary. I remember when I was little, I used to think about those significant marriage milestones. What would my "husband-to-be" get me for those special "significant" anniversaries (like the years in between don't count???)
Year 1 is supposed to be "paper". I got a card. Year 5 is said to be "wood". Back then I guess it could have been a wooden water ski. Year 10 they say is "tin"? What? A beer can perhaps? 15 is "crystal". Hmm...not for me and never happened. 25. Silver. Now that might have potential.
But 25 years later the traditional milestone wedding gifts aren't quite so significant. Steve and I aren't very materialistic; I don't even wear my wedding ring much because of the sports I do. We buy the toys we enjoy and use when we decide to throughout the year (which is one of the things that is super fun being married to your best friend - doing so many activities together ;-) Thus, waiting for special occasions isn't really our style. And buying something just to "buy it" because you're "supposed to" is not that fun either, so "something silver" isn't really in the plan.
So my gift to you, Steve, is to do what you have been asking me to do for the past six months, and that is get back to my blog.
My Rock.
The first "day" we began dating, July 22, 1983, I knew there was something different about you. About a week later, I realized what it was - you were a ROCK. I couldn't rattle you, I couldn't shake you. No matter what the conditions, you were solid, stable, and grounded. My dear, you have not changed in 31 years. No matter what I throw at you; whatever I do, right, wrong, or indifferent; whatever I register for that you know will throw off our family plan for the next year (or 3 years ;-); whatever I've "gotten us into this time"; whatever I suggest, you don't waiver. You are my rock.
My Supporter.
You may not like it, but you support it. You may not agree with it, but you back it. I've never once had to ask you for "a pass" to participate. Frankly, you know "asking for a pass" is not who I am, but doing what I love and loving what I do is who I am. And you've never stood between the two. You stand behind that and know that's part of the package you married. If I were to ask first, I'm certain you'd clearly think something has gone wrong. You've followed me, cheered me on, stood in the heat for 12 hours (five times now ;-), cramped up, clammed up, champed up - to cheer me on. Neither of us aiming for podiums or results, but just chalking it up to accomplishment, determination, and personal growth. You followed me through a line item on my bucket list (well, we did get into a few subtitles we weren't expecting which added two additional years ;-) but we did it together and I will always cherish the sacrifices you made on my behalf. Check.
My Forgiver.
I have never been one of perfection. My flaws run deep and wide. But you have never poured salt into any of them. You have never waived them on a banner. You have taken them in stride and moved on. Even when they have effected us both, whether they've been something we could laugh at (like when I was in such a hurry I drove into Grandpa's carport and took the pole out to the point it was resting on his car); something we both should have cried at, but you never did; or something that hindsight would have produced an entirely different result for us and you never brought the view in the rearview mirror back up to me. Silent, stoic, and stealth. You have always loved me for who I am and the lessons I've learned through imperfection.
My Soul Mate.
You understand me. We share the same beliefs and loves. You know how I am wired. You don't question it. You don't compare it. You literally and wholly take me for "me". Is it because you really understand me? I doubt that; I don't completely understand me. Is it because you love me so much that you do? Possibly. But I believe you it's because you "respect" me for who I am, meaning you may not understand it, agree with it, or believe in it, but you respect me enough to take my beliefs, actions, intent, and purpose in stride as part of the whole package. I believe respect is as significant as love in a relationship, and a noun that many relationships lack. You know what makes me tick and you may not agree with it, but you respect it enough to allow it to "keep ticking".
My Friend.
For 31 years we have played, traveled, learned different sports, skied together (I wonder how many ski sets we have taken during the years??), worked out together, biked together (how many miles we've ridden?), run together? Not, just checking to see if you were really reading this! (However, if you will reflect back, there were about two weeks in July when we started dating and you were "courting" me that you'd run to Selma Hughes and back with me after we skied early mornings so we'd warm up - remember how COLD Lake Austin was back then??) We truly live life, love life, and enjoy it to its full extent together. We love God, our friends, our community, nature, what we can give it together, and most treasured, what it gives back to us. We do life together. And Life is Good.
My Brother.
You love me unconditionally and understand me spiritually. You do not critique me (thank goodness - as the list would go on and on!) You know me well enough to edge me forward. You know where my gifts, my passions, and my God-given platform lies. When I'm not using them, you nudge me; when I'm not sharing them, you urge me; when I'm sitting around complacent, you wonder why and ask me. You know that "my life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to slide in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - with my arms raised to the sky - WOW, What A Ride!"
My Husband.
Here's to the next 25+ years of our "Ride".
Till Death Do Us Part.
Period.
Happy 25th Anniversary (+6!), Steve! I wouldn't trade a day.
A beautiful testament to your love for your life mate (my son). I remember vividly, your wedding day and that beautiful 'double rainbow' that God blessed you both with - and once again he blessed you with a 'double rainbow' named Cayden and Coltyn. I am blessed with all four of you, my Texas Family.
ReplyDeleteI love you,
Bubbe