Another Anniversary Today

Today is our wedding anniversary, so I am remembering all the anniversaries that have come before. And also the wedding that started the string of anniversaries.

Here are earlier posts I’ve written about our wedding and anniversaries.

• ‘Ode to Joy’ on Our Wedding Anniversary
• Tenth Anniversary Celebration in the Virgin Islands
• Anniversary in Aruba
• Our Fortieth Anniversary: Memories and Treasures Through Generations
• Reflecting on Anniversaries and the Days In Between

Today makes 48 years of marriage. I think back 48 years ago, and I wonder whether I could have anticipated where we are today. I doubt it.

My husband and I wanted children, and we were blessed with two wonderful children. Raising them was a stressful time of balancing jobs and family, but our children—and we—survived, and even thrived. Each child found a spouse to suit them. Both children and their spouses are independent, hard-working, and kind people. We weren’t perfect parents, but apparently, we were adequate.

We have two grandchildren (which I also wanted, though, of course, I couldn’t control that), and our daughter and her husband are now developing their own blend of work/life balance. We live near our grandchildren, so can see them often. But not too often. We all have boundaries, which is part of maintaining healthy relationships.

My husband and I had good careers. We worked hard and saved hard, and we are comfortable. Life has a way of throwing obstacles into the path, and in our case, health is one obstacle. Financial resources provide the health care we need, but money does not restore health itself. Still, we are fortunate to be comfortable.

We have—or had—avocations we enjoyed. I am writing, as I wanted to do for many years before retiring and becoming a novelist. My husband spent 30 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve, and then 15 years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and he provided good service in those organizations.

We could have traveled more, but our commitments got in the way. Still, we had some good trips and made good memories.

So my husband and I have been blessed. This, our anniversary, is a day for counting blessings, and tomorrow—Thanksgiving—will be a day to express gratitude for these blessings. I am grateful for all I’ve had, including a good husband, every day of the last 48 years.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May you be as blessed as I have been.