The big day! 46 years ago!
Yesterday as I was having breakfast with my wife Diane, I received a text from my daughter. The text said, “Congratulations dad, on your 46th anniversary.”
I had totally forgotten! I involuntarily made a sound like a rabbit being stepped on by a hippo. I looked up to see Diane stifling a giggle behind her hand. “Happy Anniversary,” I said, stepping around the table to give her a hug and a sheepish apology. This was not the first time in 46 years I had forgotten important occasions.
“Why have you stayed married to me for 46 years?” I asked. Still laughing, this is what she answered….
“You married the right woman. “
She is so right. I have NEVER spent a lot of time wondering what it would be like to be married to someone else, because if I was married to someone else, I probably wouldn’t be married. “Someone else” would have sent me packing long ago. Forgetting isn’t a weakness of mine. It is a “talent!” As I grow older, I am getting better at it. I have other talents as well.
- Professional mess maker
- Perpetual toilet seat leaver-upper
- Door and drawer leaver-opener
- Cell phone loser
- Car keys hider
- Dirty clothes dropper
- Thunderous snorer
- Acrobatic sleeper
Over the years I have modified some of these talents to be less annoying, but I am very aware of how fortunate I was to marry a woman who loved me in spite of those awful talents.
God searched the universe and could not find a woman who would put up with me. So he created a one of a kind unique and beautiful creature who would love me just the way I was. “Your name will be Diane,” he said. “Special blessings will be reserved for you in heaven because you will put up with this man.”
Diane knew what she was getting into. When we got engaged, the sweet elderly woman who watched over the men’s dorm at my college, pulled Diane aside one day and warned, “Don’t marry this man!” When Diane asked, “why?” the woman replied, “Have you ever seen his room?” She’s seen it now for 46 years and she still loves me.
Diane has an amazing sense of humor. Laughter has often been a part of the healing process when we faced conflict or difficulties.
Diane has been quick to forgive. Trust me, I have needed some serious forgiving over the years.
Diane is committed to make our marriage work and to train me how to make it work.
The same God that made us for each other, helped us through some very difficult times. After 46 years, I would marry her again. Today she told me she would make the same decision.
Then she said, “Put our next anniversary on your calendar and go spend some serious cash to make up for forgetting this one!”
I’m on my way!
How long have you been married?
Have you ever forgotten an important event in your marriage?
Was anyone injured as a result?
- Still in love after 46 years!
Comments
I’ve been married for 26.5 years and have only went through 2 marriage ceremonies. Before anybody gasps and says that I can’t add the two marriages together I can tell you that my first marriage followed our vows to the letter and that my second marriage is also following our vows to the letter. Have I forgotten an important event? I can’t remember what my coffee is supposed to taste like or the date I sent my wife an instant message that said, ” How about we take half a day o Friday to elope.” So I do think I probably have forgotten other things as well, that’s why on the 13th of every month I say Happy Birthday so that I have a 1 in 12 chance of getting it right. As far is being injured for forgetting, I can’t remember.
Ken,
When I saw the title and before I clicked through, I told myself what the real answer to that was, and when I got there, you Nailed it! Obviously, to those that know you, that would be the truth and since I was married 43 years ago on the first of this month, I can say unequivocally state that is why I am married to the same woman today.(She even helped me spell that word. ) Her name also starts with a “D,” so He must have still been on that letter when He got to mine.
Congratulations to both of you
Thanks Ken! Great tribute to your wife. My wife sure signed up for a lot when she married me and has be a huge blessing our whole marriage. I too am thankful and could not find a better woman.
Happy anniversary to both of you.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO BOTH OF YOU AND MANY MORE TO COME! Ken, I have a husband that is like your wife is for you. He loves me for me,warts and all. He knows my faults and accepts them as I do for him. My husband isn’t perfect, but he’s as close as you can get in my eyes. He snores and so do I, but our CPAP breathing machines allow us peeeeeaceful sleep. I was beginning to think that he was sawing logs to build a new house with all the noise he made and my snoring cut them to size to build a log house. Mmmm, Alas, that never happened. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful, thoughtful , l
We’ve been married almost 11 years now and I would marry Todd again every day if possible. Funny story… The DAY BEFORE our June wedding Todd made some plaques for our parents to go with a gift for our parents. I looked at the plaques and asked, “Hey babe, what’s going on in August?”, to which he replied, “Um… your birthday?” He had accidentally put our wedding date as August instead of June. We had a great laugh and he was given a discount on the second round! =) Happy Anniversary sweet friends. You are an amazing couple and we are so thankful for your lives, your laughter, your friendship, and your marriage!!
Congratulations on 46 years – I am sure your wife cares more about how you treat her than you annoying ‘talents’….as long as you respect and are sweet to her, you will have many more years together.
Congratulations! I have 52 years behind me with the same woman. I really hated the thought of having to “break in” a new mother-in-law! Blessings for many more years!,Bud
Congratulations Ken … and good work to Dianne! Great column – I’ll have to remember it when my hubby & I celebrate 38 years this month. He said to me on our first anniversary “It seems like forever” and I still have him!
Congratulations Ken, wonderful post. My wife and I will be celebrating our 21st anniversary in June and we had a 6 yr courting relationship or looong engagement while we were both in college. I have forgotten something before, but I can’t remember what it was, but I do know it didn’t cause any lasting injuries (I think). My wife has been a blessing to me, praise God.
Congratulations. What a beautiful picture of you both.
Congratulations Ken and Dianne. Glad I found this site, good to see your smiling faces,
I loved reading this post! 😀 My husband and I have only been married 5 years and we have both forgotten our anniversary each year except for our 2nd! We always have a good laugh together over it. Fortunately, we’re both of the opinion that while the special days (anniversaries, birthdays, mother’s day, father’s day, valentine’s day, etc) are nice that how we treat each other the rest of the time is what’s truly important. Clearly I married the right man and he the right woman! 😀