On June 26th, 1965 at the ages of 20 and 19 Anne and I got married, as we pledged to love each other and to build our lives together.
Now 49 years later, at the ages of 69 and 68 we have honored that pledge among all the joy and all the turbulence life presents.
Our blessings include having each other all these years and our blessings include having our three sons: Kyle, Kevin and Clayton whom we love very much. Now we have their wives and children, whom we also love very much.
That isn't to say among the love and bliss we haven't made our share of hurtful mistakes and caused each other considerable pain, for to varying extents, such pain is a part of every life.
But we have weathered some very difficult times and will be confronted by more issues, eventually including death, which I view as necessary to the rebirth of life, although that will not spare us the pain of loss.
I'm thankful that although we started with so little financially with nearly no savings, no jobs and a $65.88 monthly car payment on a new '65 Mustang and $102.50 monthly apartment rent we were later blessed with huge financial success, eventually including a 10,000 square foot estate with magnificent grounds.
But I'm also thankful we lost much of that wealth, for we live comfortably today and we learned valuable life lessons in the process of losing that money. Yet what we gained in return is invaluable including forgiveness, a much deeper level of compassion for others and a greater desire to share what we have with those less fortunate. It also restored my humility.
As pretty as Anne was when we got married, she is even prettier today. For life's path has made her far wiser and mature and expanded the depth of her heart with love to encompass not only our family and friends but to others who need a helping hand.
Now on our 49th anniversary, would I marry her again? I would marry her in a heartbeat, thankful she would marry me. For as time has shown, she is the love of my life.
Dick
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