Silver and Gold…..

Happy Silver Anniversary was the first thing that Joe said to me this morning. Those words really took me by surprise, not because I had forgotten it was our anniversary nor that it was our 25th.  What took me by surprise was the milestone…Silver Anniversary.  I remember my parent’s Silver and Golden Anniversary, my Grandparent’s Golden Anniversary – and now we, my husband and I have joined that prestigious group celebrating a Silver Anniversary.  How did this happen so quickly, where did the time go, and how did we fill so much life and memories into what feels like such a short time.

A little over 25 years ago I remember sitting with my Dad after Joe had asked him for my hand in marriage.  And I knew that he had asked because my little sister Danielle and I had spied on that conversation, and she had read their lips for me, a story that Joe didn’t find out til’ years later.  But I digress….  My dad asked for my feelings and if marrying Joe would make me happy.  It still brings tears to my eyes as I remember saying “The only thing that worries me is that because of our age we probably won’t have a 50th wedding anniversary.”  My dad, holding my hand said “No one knows how many years they’ll have together. The key is to have as many happy ones together as you can.”

Waiting for him to surprise me with a proposal when I knew he had already been ring shopping is another of our “stories.”  My cousin Phyllis had a diamond broker connection through her husband’s family (does the name Gambino ring any bells.)  So she set Joe up with an appointment at the brokers, a little before Christmas, and Joe purchased the diamond. He then had it mounted and tucked away to surprise me.  While visiting with Phyllis she tells me that Joe is going to give me an engagement ring for Christmas.  Now before you start thinking “How could she!”, please know that the two of us were thick as thieves and couldn’t keep a secret from each other if we tried. Christmas morning arrives and every single box I’m opening I am of course looking for a ring…..literally pulling and shredding tissue paper and checking corners of every box I opened.  No ring.  Phone call to Phyllis “There’s no ring, you said he had the ring!” – “He has it!” she says “Maybe you’ll get it New Year’s Eve!”  The ball dropped in New York but the only thing that was ringing in was the New Year.  On January 31, 1992 my future husband walked into the Church where I was working and asked me to come into the sanctuary with him.  He proceeded to propose literally with God as his witness.  He also confessed that he knew Phyllis would never have been able to keep a secret from me, and that he had no intention of proposing on Christmas or New Years Eve but it was a lot of fun watching me rifle through all the boxes!

Our marriage started out with a ready-made family.  Joe bringing his 3 girls and I brought Christopher.  We were married the Saturday before Easter Sunday because his 9-year-old daughter Jessica was in for a visit from England. And a honeymoon would literally wait for 20 years.  And our plans to add an addition to this mix came to fruition 9 months later in the form of our daughter Niki.  I became a stay-at-home mom and count my blessing to this day that I had the opportunity to spend that quality time in their lives. Joe traveled frequently on his job, and for a while would leave Monday and return Friday.  This worked perfectly for my control freak tendencies because it gave me the opportunity to “run the show.”

We’ve experienced raising a newborn together, blending families, the angst of teenage children, children getting married, children going through divorce, becoming grandparents, new homes, losing parents, the seemingly unbearable loss of a niece and nephew, Joe’s retirement and the beginning feelings of being empty nesters.  Life wasn’t always easy or perfect but there was always unconditional love given and received.

As a family we’ve traveled to the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Mackinac Island,  Niagara Falls, Florida, North & South Carolina, Mexico, Badlands SD, Mt Rushmore, Battlefield of Custer’s Last Stand, Devils Tower, Salt Lake City, Denver, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Red Lodge MT and the place closest to our hearts my Dad’s cabin in Wyoming.  And Joe and I finally did go on our honeymoon, just the two of us in our 20th year of marriage to Riviera Maya, Mexico.

So tonight we celebrated this milestone, sitting at a window seat of one of our favorite restaurants, indulging in too much delicious food and maybe a little wine.  I looked across the table and truly cannot believe it’s been 25 years. Yes, so much has changed about us…..Joe gained his grey hair about 2 years into our marriage (I’m not claiming responsibility!) and I certainly am not the girl I used to be.  But I think we’re better, we’ve grown together and most importantly we’ve loved each other through everything good and bad.  We started off as a ready-made family which has just blossomed and will grow again soon with the twins. Looking back if I had to use one word to describe our marriage it would be “family.” It has been our touchstone since the beginning.

The future is before us and I can’t wait to experience more of it with this man who I consider my best friend. Reservations are made for a trip to Croatia, Slovenia and France this Fall and the anticipation is killing me!  So let the next 25 years begin sweetheart…..I’m ready if you are!!!