32 & Counting

This day 32 years ago after our wedding Tom and I posed for this photo standing in my fancy Trans Am with our wedding party all around us.

It doesn't seem like that much time has gone by, but it has. When we stood at the church and said our vows "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health" they were just words really - we had no idea what they would mean in the long run. How could we? I look back on it now and realize how naive we were - how naive all wedding couples are at that age.

What it means 32 years down the road is that we've had some of all that "better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness, health" stuff and we've survived it all. What it means is that we traded in our fancy sports cars for more practical vehicles and what we got in return was three kids who keep us broke, a house that needs constant attention and a few pets who do strange things at inconvenient times.

But we also got a family that has given us another set of contrasting scenarios "joy and sadness, hope and despair, pride and shame" - but most of all true delight in watching them grow and move on into adulthood and the honor of being in their lives.

With Tom I feel I have genuinely led a charmed life. We have had some difficult times, but somehow we always land on our feet. Now we get to spend more time together and also anticipate being grandparents to the next generation - one of which is already the light of our lives.

It's been a fun 32 years, Tom. We're still naive in a way, we certainly don't know what the next years will bring. I'm just very lucky I'll get to spend them with you. Much love, D.