Words of Wisdom from a Little Old Man

Today is our wedding anniversary and I thought I'd write about one of my favorite conversations ever. It was with a 92 year old man who was a client at a bank I once worked at. His words have always stuck with me.

He had come to the bank to make a deposit, and while I was processing his transaction, he noticed I had an engagement ring on my finger. He asked me about the lucky guy and of course I answered all his questions with the excitement of a newly engaged woman.

Then, he told me (almost tearfully) that he and his wife who had just recently passed, had celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary just a few weeks before she died. I commented on how beautiful that was. His response was priceless. He chuckled and said "well, you know, the first 50 years were a little rough, we were still getting to know each other. But the last 25...they were pure bliss.

And so I look back on our tiny little 7 years, just one tenth of the time, and I can sort of see how that makes sense. The first 5 years were really, really hard. Then the 6th year was a transtional year, now, this 7th year, it has been wonderful. Not perfect- of course not- but truly wonderful. I wonder once we hit 10, will I feel like the first 7 were rough? At 20 will it seem like the first 15? I have a sneaking suspicion it will.

And so, a public "Thank You" to my husband who has worked so hard to be a good husband. Who has practiced patience and perserverance in the face of many significant challenges. And has loved me, just the way I am. Not in an enabling, giver her what she wants or nobody will be happy kind of way, but in a "I want to help you be the very best person you have inside of you" kind of way. And that, I think is true love, because that kind of love requiresa long term commitment to see the project through.