43 years ago today . . .

For better or worse,

For richer or poorer,

In sickness and in health,

For as long as we both shall live.

These are the words the that Kenny and I vowed to each other 43 years ago today.

We were so young,

and it seemed like we could do anything together.

And for the most part we've made a good team.

I was 19 - he was 20 - what were we thinking!

In 1966 it wasn't that unusual to get married so young and he was making $2.65 an hour working at Speedspace and I was probably making $2.00 an hour working for my Dad at his flooring store.

We went to Los Angeles for our honeymoon. Dodger Stadium (we saw Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale & Juan Marischal pitch - Dodgers against the Giants).
We went to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.
We had a GREAT time.

We still have a great time where ever we go.

I always say I deserve a medal for being able to stand up to Kenny when I want him to listen to my point,

but the truth is,

he equally needs a medal for putting up with me and my

hypochondriac, bitchy, emotional, selfish and childish ways for all these years.

We have grown up together and somehow knew enough to not be attached at the hip and give each other enough space to enjoy other things besides being with each other.

I enjoy watching sports with him and know the players of most of the sports well enough to actually talk football, baseball, basketball and golf.

He on the other hand knows nothing about the things I'm interested in but I don't really need him in watching me sew or paint. I show him what I made and he says "Oh, that looks nice." That's all I need.

Our life has been centered around being with our original families (both sets of parents had long marriages and were examples for us), in the beginning of our marriage, then, the family we created - kids and grandkids, for the most part. We are family people. We also enjoy traveling together, listening to music as we travel and we are in sync with each other in our routines of our daily life.

Kenny is very good to me and because of him I am

and he is

I cannot imagine my life without him and I think we've done pretty good so far, so I think we'll keep going and see how long we can play this thing out.

Who knew when we went out on our first date 45 years ago that it would lead to falling in love with each other, marrying and having 4 super kids, 6 grandkids that have us wrapped around their fingers and a life that works for us.

We've had our ups and downs, everyone does, but when all is said and done,

we're still standing

- together -

My thought to leave you with today is: The way to happiness - keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry, live simply, expect little, give much.

Until next time . . .