My 27th Wedding Anniversary

Twenty-seven years ago last Friday, I married a guy I had known less than a year. There were people who said we'd never make it, and here we are still together nearly thirty years later. I have been married to him for half of my life. I can't imagine my life without him.

I have told this story several times, but I think it deserves to be told again. Our relationship literally began with flowers. I didn’t know it at the time, but a mutual friend of ours had attempted to set us up on a blind date. Jim got cold feet, and no one ever mentioned him to me.

He changed his mind a couple months later and decided he wanted to meet me after all. He had learned where I worked and sent a bouquet of roses to me there. He introduced himself on the card and gave me his phone number in case I’d like to meet him. I was shocked to receive flowers from a man I’d never met.

Some of you may remember the old TV commercial where a man bought a woman he'd never met flowers because she smelled so good. That old body spray ad ran through my head over and over again until I called him.

My parents raised me to say thank you when someone gives me something. Roses are a nice gift, indeed, so I called the mystery man. He wasn't home and didn't have a working answering machine. Dumbfounded, I called our mutual friend who he had named in his introduction card. She assured me he was a good guy and worth my attention.

He showed up at the grocery store where I worked as a bookkeeper the next day. He introduced himself and requested my phone number. I instantly felt a spark, and we agreed to a phone call that evening.

We started dating a few days later. We were engaged within six weeks and married eight months after that. I had been married to my husband two months before I’d known him for a year. Every time he gives me flowers, it takes me back to that grand gesture of an introduction.

We’ve been through a lot, as is the case with all couples who’ve been together for many years. Each trial made us stronger. Our love and respect for each other has grown as our relationship matured. We’ve learned to roll with the punches, adapt to things as they come, and make lemonade from the life's lemons.

I think my favorite anniversary is the year all we really wanted was to be alone together. In addition to my two stepchildren, we had another teen who had moved in with us to finish high school. With three teens and a passel of pets in the house, we were desperate for peace and quiet. So, we bought some burgers, drove to the river, and climbed into the bed of Jim’s truck. We ate our fast food and looked at the stars. We had an uninterrupted conversation without raising our voices to be heard. It was magical.

Times have changed and so has our situation. Instead of rowdy teens, we have a persnickety cat and rambunctious puppy living with us. Our schedules align enough that we are able to plan an evening out without much logistical trouble.

This year, we had a nice dinner at a steakhouse, and then he took me to Best Buy to pick out my anniversary gift. I had mentioned I needed a new tablet, and that's exactly what he bought me. Because he wanted to be certain to get the right one, he had me choose it. After our purchase, we came home to our empty nest and enjoyed a relaxing evening.

I gave him a custom-made diamond art of the first photo he had sent of him and Coco. He sent the picture and told me how she had been found dumped and alone. He explained he thought the puppy should come live with us. I also gave him a compass engraved with the words, "So You Can Always Find Your Way Home to Me. Love You Forever." The compass came complete with a sundial and beautiful wooden case. Of course, I rounded out the gift with a building supply chain gift card.

Anniversaries don't have to be elaborate productions. Although, I would like to have a party for our thirtieth anniversary, we will see where life has taken us at the point. The important thing is we love each other and still want to be together.

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I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.