I use the word “journey” a lot when I refer to my relationship with my spouse. Like all couples, we have had our joyous times, our down times, our travelin’ times, our comfy-at-home times, our happy times, our sad times, our best-friendiest times, our angry times, our in-sync times, our not-so-in-sync times, our healthy times, and our not healthy times.
Whatever times we have had over the past 22 years since we met in that fateful date (April 25, 1993), I can honestly say…
… that the journey has been quite a learning experience of growth for both of us. Neither of us imagined when we met 22 years ago that we would …
… build our own “forever” house in the sprawling ‘burbs where I grew up.
… travel throughout the U.S. and the world when we were younger and could do it.
… ride cross-country and locally over 25,000 miles two-up on a Harley.
… marry. Legally. In our home state.
… intertwine our legal relationship as only married couples can do with the full rights granted by federal and state law.
… go through hell caring for one another with broken limbs, surgical procedures, and long-term illness.
… remain as deeply in love 22 years later as we fell in love with each other within our first year of our relationship.
As we said in our marriage vows,
I, [name], take you, [name], to be my partner on our life’s journey. I promise to stand with you in celebration and sadness, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor to you for now and evermore.
… it truly is a life journey. We have come a long way and we have a long way to go, but we know in our hearts that our journey is ours to make, and we boldly continue, together.
Happy “when we met anniversary” to my beloved spouse. I think if we’ve made it this far, we’ll make it … well … forever. ’til death do us part.
Life is short: show those you love how you love them.
Amen, brother!