Monthly Archives: July 2012

Twenty years ago, I married the love of my life.

(Please keep in mind that in 1992, giant headpieces and huge puffy sleeves were all the rage. 🙂 ).

Without a doubt, that was the happiest day of my life. The rain that fell could not dampen our joy as our lives were joined together forever. For that one magical moment in time, everyone we loved on this earth was all gathered in the same place and it is a memory I will always cherish.

We wanted to do something special to commemorate our twentieth anniversary, so we decided to visit Ogunquit, Maine. My dad, uncles and aunts have always told us how beautiful it is, so we were anxious to experience it for ourselves.

It did not disappoint.

This was our view from our hotel room…

We stayed at a place called The Cliff House.

It was a unique place. All the lighting was florescent…even in the lobby…and the bathrooms. I do not know any woman who wants to get up first thing in the morning and look at herself in the harsh glare of florescent lights! What were they thinking?!

The floor we stayed on was an “Adults Only Floor.” We knew this because there were signs emphatically stating this fact everywhere. There was also an “Adults Only Pool.” We had never stayed at a place that had such clear distinctions. (The pool that was reserved for children remained sadly empty the entire time we were there). Very strange.

On our first night there, we had dinner at a restaurant that was right on the water in the nearby town of York, Maine. We enjoyed our delicious meal via candlelight and watched the sun slip below the water. Afterward, we sat on the balcony of our hotel room, listening to the waves of the ocean and talking about all we have learned over the past two decades.

The most surprising thing to me was how fast these years have gone. Our wedding truly seems like yesterday for me.

The past ten years of marriage have brought so many unforeseen challenges…yet rather than drive us apart, these God-ordained trials have drawn us closer together and strengthened our bond. We have lived “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.”

And it has been such a joy. No, it has not always been easy but I would not trade one single day. We truly meant the words we said at the altar that day. That knowledge is precious to me.

I had a conversation today with a woman whose husband is gone for weeks (and sometimes months) at a time due to the nature of his job. I asked her how she handled that (knowing that when Doug was working in Vermont during the week, I missed him terribly and couldn’t wait for the weekends). She shrugged her shoulders and said matter-of-factly that she loved having her own space and “did just fine” without him.

I could not relate.

Yes, I obviously lived my life and fulfilled my responsibilities while Doug was working in another state (he has since finished his consulting job there). However, I missed him every day. Skype helped but it wasn’t the same as having him here with me and the kids. He is my best friend and I missed doing life with him on a daily basis.

Different strokes for different folks.

Our second morning in May dawned cloudy but there was still a lot to explore.

The rocky beaches of Maine are beautiful and dramatic.

The shops are charming and filled with unique treasures.

Our very favorite attraction was the Marginal Way. It is a mile-long path that winds along the ocean and it is a true delight for the senses.

We were charmed by this couple, who were celebrating their wedding day along the Marginal Way.

He was a Marine who had married his love before he was deployed. Now that he was home, they had a proper wedding with all their family and friends. Their joy was infectious.

I wonder if they realize how fast the next twenty years will go?

All too soon, we said goodbye to Ogunquit.

On the way home, we stopped at the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, Maine and I snapped this photo of my man, customarily unshaven and trying this hat on for size.

The baby face he had when he married me twenty years ago is long gone, replaced by mostly white hair and lines that were not there before…evidence of a life  fully lived.

But his blue eyes still shine with kindness and merriment and nothing makes me happier than hearing the sound of his deep laugh.

I am a  blessed woman and I can hardly wait for the next twenty years with this one God has given me.

…I will know deep in my heart
the only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you.
In this life, I was loved by you.

Back in 1998, my brother Jeff purchased a new Ford Ranger.

He had taken our dad with him in case he needed back-up with all the haggling but he did just fine on his own. Driving home in his new truck with Dad is one of Jeff’s most treasured memories. He was so happy to have shared that experience with the man who was not only his father but also his best friend.

My kids, Josh and Julia, adored that truck (Jeff eventually named her Betsy). They loved riding around in the back (at slow speeds on the dead end street of our childhood home), watching fireworks while perched in chairs atop the bed of the truck when we lived in Florida, and listening spellbound as Jeff spun stories while they sat in the cab under a darkening summer sky.

The years rolled by and Betsy served Jeff well in Pennsylvania, South Florida, and New Hampshire. However, by this summer she had well over 100,o00 miles on her and it was time for Jeff to buy a new vehicle.

Our kids took the news hard. They have moved around a lot in their young lives, so change is not always easy for them. They cherish the things that remain the same and Betsy held a lot of wonderful memories for them.

Nevertheless, Jeff purchased his new Jeep and the night before he picked it up, he drove Betsy over to the house for the last time.

My two teenagers eagerly took him up on his offer to take one more (slow and cautious) spin around the cul-de-sac in the back of Betsy.

The next day, Betsy was traded in for a Jeep named Rudy.

Let the new memories begin. 🙂