Well, Himself and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary this week. I, as a 19-year-old, one month short of 20 years, never, for a moment, wondered about the years between our wedding and our 37th anniversary. At 19, one just thinks of the present. A young woman can’t imagine 37 years. I thought only of today, being “in love”, being held and taken care of. When you actually do it -- be married for 37 years -- there are a lot of other milestones in between the being held and being loved. There is the alarm clock going off to get you up for work. There is the grocery shopping, the meals to prepare, the dishes to be washed, and the laundry. The babes to be conceived and born. There are the differences in child rearing theories. There are arguments, fights, sulks and pouting. Negotiating and compromise. The sleepless nights and the sleep-deprived days. There are plenty of tears for a woman, and plenty of anger and frustration if you are a man. But somehow, somewhere within us, different degrees at different times, the ol’ man and I found a determination to keep on trying.
Looking back, we both could have been more accommodating. There could have been more patience, more forgiveness and more compassion. But when you are living it, it seems so much more compelling, more important, to be right, to be the “winner”. Now I know that is not so. Looking back, who is right and who is wrong is not that important. It is the doing, the being, the loving, the rearing, the time together, the laughs and the adventure.
Listen to me, children. Living, loving and laughing is what is really important. If I could pass on one thing to my dear children and precious grandchildren, it would be to live in the moment. Enjoy! Appreciate each day and cherish your spouse, your child, your friends.
Play! Enjoy! Sing! Have fun! Love, Mama/Nana
