As I write this post I reflect on 24 wonderful years of marriage to my best friend Kirk. Today is our anniversary and I can't imagine loving him any more than I do right now. And tomorrow, I will love him even more and wonder at the intricacies of love and my heart and mind's ability to expand my feelings again.
I am aware that 24 years of marriage in 2011 is a great accomplishment. I am also aware that there are many couples today that celebrate decades longer in their marriages. I dedicate this post to them and to those, like me, who look up to them, are inspired by their accomplishments and hope to one day be celebrating another year of happiness.
There have been a few love stories that I have witnessed in my life, that have given me courage and strength and have inspired me in my marriage. One of those was of my husband's grandparents, By and Eve. They spent almost every waking moment together. By worked for road construction companies and Eve would follow him wherever work took him, pulling their camping trailer behind their car, through canyons and constructions sites. She would park that trailer and quickly make it their home, preparing meals, washing clothes, attending to household chores. By referred to Eve as "the best buddy a guy could ask for." It was apparent that she felt the same way about her sweetheart. One of my first memories of her is sitting in my husband's childhood home with his family and hearing Grandma report that her and Grandpa had "never had a fight". This was contrary to what had happened the day before when Grandma had gotten mad at Grandpa for something, but everyone just agreed with her and grinned.
Eve spent her last 7 years in a skilled nursing facility where they cared for her every need. By would visit her everyday, whether she recognized him or not. He would sit by her side, feed her, hold her hand and talk to her about days gone by. He would study rules and regulations of nursing care hoping to make the best environment possible for his gal. He would sometimes get angry with the staff if he felt like there was more they could do for Eve. The staff knew that he did this out of deep love and concern for Eve and the staff grew in their knowledge of care because of his efforts.
Eve passed away a little over nine years ago, on a beautiful winter morning. By passed away later that afternoon, unable to live a day without his little buddy. I recall the family preparing for the funerals and finding that Grandpa had already made arrangements with the funeral home and the cemetery and had even had their headstone prepared and placed, lacking only the dates of their end on earth. Their headstone has a beautiful phrase on it..."True Love Never Dies". And Grandpa is right!
Hug your sweethearts and love them like tomorrow may not come!
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