“If someone truly loves you, they won’t tell you love stories, they will make a love story with you.” ~Anonymous

Dear Skip, I wanted to create a blog as today, September 28, 2020, is our 40th wedding anniversary. I wasn’t quite sure how to get started or what the plan would be, so as usual, I overthought what and how to say it. I know you would prefer a hours long conversation about “feelings,” (I can not even write that without laughing out loud). I thought I would chose forty photos and a couple of quotes to express my love for you, though I found that was impossible. When I got to one hundred and forty “most memorable” photos I noticed some common themes. I was humbled and perhaps a tad emotional as I fast forwarded though the memories of our first forty years. Sometimes, it has felt like Mr Toads Wild Ride in Disney and we are spinning in abandon not knowing what the future will bring.

“You know, there’s a philosopher who says, “As you live your life, it appears to be anarchy and chaos, and random events, no related events, smashing into each other and causing this situation or that situation and then this happens, and it’s overwhelming, and it just looks like what in the world is going on? And later, when you look back at it, it looks like a finely crafted novel. But at the time, it don’t.” ~ Joe Walsh

I thought at one point I would attempt to list forty things I love about you, but there were so many that how could I choose only forty. (My mama did not raise a fool!) So, without further ado, here are some of the reasons I love you in no particular order.

You have the best smile, which makes me smile.

You somehow fit perfectly into my family, and love them as much as they love you.

You love your family, and they love you.

You value friendship, in fact you treasure it!

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” ~ Khalil Gibran

“Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.”

~Jon Stewart

I love you because you love our children, and they love you.

Of course it goes without saying, that I love you for being you, and for being there for me, and in spite of my many imperfections, I can always count on you. You have helped me be strong when I thought I was weak. You took me on adventures to places I thought I’d never see. You’ve held me when I cried, and loved me when I did not feel lovable, and as from the first time I met you, over forty years ago, you make me laugh.

“Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will.” ~ Anonymous

“Hey, What I like about you
You keep me warm at night
Never wanna let you go
Know you make me feel all right, yeah

Keep on whispering in my ear
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear
‘Cause it’s true
That’s what I like about you”

~ The Romantics, What I like About You

We have been so blessed in our lives, and even more blessed to have not only perfect children and daughter in law, but perfect grandchildren as well.

“To a small child, the perfect granddad is unafraid of big dogs and fierce storms but absolutely terrified of the word “boo.” ~ Robert Brault

I used to think that in marriage the couple made up two half’s of a whole, but we are much more than that. You are part of my heart and soul and funny bone, we are not “better half’s” of each other, but together, we make each other better.

In case I forget to tell you, I have had a really good time these first forty years. I can not wait to make more memories in the next forty with you by my side.

“Through the years, as the fire starts to mellow
Burning lines in the book of our lives
Though the binding cracks and the pages start to yellow
I’ll be in love with you
I’ll be in love with you

Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you
I am in love with you”

~ Dan Folgelberg, Longer