Love, silver, 25 years and a heart.

A random leaf shaped like a heart I  found on the street yesterday.  Can the universe be sending love my direction this very special anniversary week?

Twenty-five years ago today, on a blazingly hot August day, I was nervously scurrying about,  preparing to get married.   Our wedding was at 4pm.  Years later, I realized that we had married on 8/4/84 at 4pm-Quite a combination of eights and fours.  We were surrounded by family and friends and had the best darn wedding that, for some folks, still hasn’t been rivaled even until today.   It was a GREAT wedding.    We had a six-piece live band that rocked the house.  Everything went as well as it could have that day.  But, what made our wedding really special,  was the fact that Larry and I were tying the knot.  We had been dating for 9 years, and August 4th was a long time coming, and everyone was so happy for us

  I remember our church soloist singing, “On the Wings of Love,” a song I chose specifically for the pre-service.  It sounded so beautiful accompanied by the piano, and gave me goose bumps, as I stood at the back of the church waiting for my cue to begin my walk down the aisle.   I borrowed the idea from Princess Diana to walk down the aisle to ‘Trumpet Voluntary’ instead of ‘Here Comes the Bride’, and I truly felt like a princess as I made my way through the sounds of violin and piano onward toward an anxious Larry awaiting my arrival.    Our little church wasn’t air conditioned, and I remember standing at the altar in my wedding dress with sweat running down the backs of my thighs.  That day, I had sweat in places I had never perspired from before.  One or two of our groomsmen fainted.  It was a grueling but lovely service and we made it.

A week later, we jetted off for a two week honeymoon in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 

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While standing at the altar, I  recall thinking, “I wonder what it’ll be like 25 years from now on our anniversary?  I wonder how many kids we’ll have?  It’s interesting to be living that moment in question now, knowing what the answer is. 

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I remember it took me a long time to get used to calling Larry ‘my husband.’ because for so long, I had referred to him as my ‘boyfriend’.   I also look back and remember what a little thrill it was to sign my personal checks with my married name. 

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I look back at what’s transpired over this bundle of silver years.  We’ve had four dogs, two houses and five kids.  There’s been many minor ups and downs and a handful of really feisty arguments that left us wondering why and can I even go on?  But, after it was all over, we could surely say we weathered the storms life blew our way and came out stronger, reinforced by a deeper  understanding of each other and an enormous love for one another. 

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We’re both still young, I’m 46, and Larry’s 49.  I wonder what the next 25 years holds for us?  Maybe another house?  Definately some grandchildren and another new dog or two?  What ever it is, we’ll be together, and that makes it something to look forward to.  I’m out for the Gold.

Happy Anniversary Lar.  I love you.

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Just smile for me and let the day begin
You are the sunshine that lights my heat within
I’m sure that you’re an angel in disguise
Come take my hand and together we will rise

On the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only the two of us
Together flying high
Flying high
Upon the wings of love

You look at me and I begin to melt
Just like the snow when a ray of sun is felt
I’m crazy bout ya baby can’t you see
I’d be delighted if you could come with me

On the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only the two of us
Together flying high
Flying high
Upon the wings of love

Yes you belong to me
I’m yours exclusively
Right now we live and breathe
Each other.  Inseparable it seems,
We’re flowing like a stream
Running free flowing
On the wings of love

On the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only the two of us
Together flying high
Together flying high

On the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only the two of us
Together flying high
Together flying high
Upon the wings of love