(23.5 years in, on a warm July night, cuddling in bed)
I had been thinking about broken hearts. I looked back over my life and realized that my heart had broken exactly once, in the summer of 1982, when Garry and I renounced one another for reasons that seemed good at the time. Pondering this, I wondered if it really counted, because we ended up getting married 2.5 years later. Could it really be a broken heart if it ended up in a happy marriage?
Me: Have you ever had a broken heart?
Garry: Only once.
Me: Tell me about it.
Garry: It was that summer when we gave each other up. I'd been hurt before, but I never knew what it was like to have my heart break until then. I never believed in true love until then, either.
Me: Wait. You believe in true love?
A rare and precious thing to discover after 23 years of marriage and 4 kids. I appreciated learning it so much more now than I would have then.
(after 24 years of marriage, on a cold winter night, cuddling close for warmth)
We were talking about my weight loss and its effect on the male half of the population.
Me: Well, I did get issued a pretty nice body.
Garry: Oh yes, I noticed you the minute I set eyes on you, on the first day of class.
Me: You noticed me the first day of class? What did you think?
Garry: I thought you were gorgeous. And then I thought, 30 years from now, we'll be married and have four kids and we'll be lying in bed together naked talking about this moment. I'd describe what you were wearing....
Me (in utter disbelief, because he has no interest in my clothes): You remember what I was wearing?
He went on to describe my outfit, and I remembered the shirt he was describing. Amazing.
It is strange and wonderful to discover these tidbits about our early days after so many years. Almost like being on an archeological expedition and discovering signs of an earlier society.
(later that same night)
Me: Marry me.
Garry: I'd love to, but I'm already married.
Me: Well dump her and marry me instead.
Garry: But I like being married to her.
Me: What do you like about being married to her?
Garry: Well, for starters, she's brilliant and sexy.
Me: Sounds like tough competition.
Garry: Very.
Some things in life just keep getting better.
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1 comment:
That one brought tears to my eyes. So beautiful. I can't even imagine it.
I've never experienced anything like that, and at this point it's unlikely I ever will. Love at first sight that lasts a lifetime. Wow.
I don't think about stuff like that very often anymore, but your post definitely was one of those occasions.
Both of you can count yourselves among a very, very lucky few. Blessings to you both and your kids.
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