This one’s for Jim.
The idea that it has been a whole quarter of a century since we got married in that dusty little office of Norfolk, Virginia’s Justice of the Peace is something I am having trouble absorbing. While clearly it makes sense that twenty five years have passed–what with having lived in six homes in three cities, having raised two nearly-grown boys, and seeing just a *hint* of gray hair on both of our heads–at the same time it feels like I have just blinked a couple of times and, well, here we are.
When we got married, I had just turned eighteen and you were almost twenty. We were the only two people in the world who knew that it would absolutely work. I was fine with that back then, and now as I look through a lens that’s twenty-five-years old, I understand why others felt the way they did. We were two kids swimming upstream together, against all odds. That said, I don’t have one regret about getting married so young: there’s nobody else with whom I’d rather swim upstream, not to mention there’s a certain satisfaction in succeeding when so many others had no faith. (Heck, not only succeeding: we ROCK at marriage.)
It is really impossible to describe how much you mean to me, how much I love you. You’re there for me always. You’re my partner, my other half, my better half. You are indeed the calm in my storm: coming home–literally and figuratively–to you is one of my biggest joys in life, and the sparkle in your eyes makes me smile.
(Probably because I’m a passionate Scorpio,) I tend to toss around the word “love” haphazardly, as in “I love Ed O’Neill” or “I love cheesecake”. It may sound like I’m diluting its meaning by saying that word so much, but believe me, *I* know the degree of love I am assigning to each object of my affection. You joke that every time I proclaim my love for something or someone (like steak, crisp autumn days, the city, or Bob Harper), you move further down the list. I can tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. Without a doubt, you are–and always have been–my number one. Everything and everyone else pales in comparison to you, the love of my life.
Happy twenty-fifth (whew!) anniversary, my Love. I can’t wait to see what the next twenty five years bring!
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Happy anniversary!
Happy anniversary to you guys! You’re our role models- now go for gold, then diamond then ruby!!!!! 🙂 i ♥ you
What a special day! Some day I hope to meet Jim. Happy Anniversary to you both!
Happy Anniversary!!!
Happy Anniversary – you’re both so lucky to have found your sole-mates while so young!
I don’t think I’ve ever read a sweeter, more heartfelt tribute. Happy Anniversary! 🙂
I *LOVE* this! I read it, then I read it again to my family. It made me weepy. (And, I *love* that picture of you two and I always will.) Happy Anniversary!
I’m all choked up. Happy Anniversary and many more to you. Mazel tov or as my people say…Sto lat!
So romantic. And to rock at marriage after 25 years is something altogether amazing.
Congrats!!
Happy 25th Anniversary.
Love
Mom & Dad
Wow. Congratulations! I am so much older and we only hit 23 years in October. You guys were babies!!
That is so beautiful. I feel a little guilty reading it, but I assume you wouldn’t post it if you didn’t want it seen. Mazel Tov on a fantastic marriage and 25 years. I’m so happy for you!!! Xo
I love the story of you & Jim because it gives me hope that marriage can work, that love is still alive somewhere out there 🙂 Congrats on hitting such a huge milestone!
I am so happy for you both. 25 years is a monumental achievement in this day and age. Many wishes for many, many more loving, and fun years together.
Happy Anniversary!! Hope you guys enjoy the next 25 years even more.
Hope you had an amazing anniversary! Wishing you all the best for many years to come 🙂
Hey, you got married right near where I live! Happy, happy anniversary – and here’s to 25 more!
Awwww this is so sweet! Congrats!!!
Beautiful Melisa. Happy Anniversary.
Congratulations on the continued commitment! Lovely words. Happy Anniversary.