Sunday, August 23, 2009

Can't Say How It's Done


Welcome to "The Gods Are Bored!" Mighty Aphrodite! Can August 23, 2009 actually be Anne's 25th wedding anniversary? By golly. I think it is.

A quarter of a century spent with one mate.

What's amazing to me is not that Mr. Johnson and I have been together that long, but that 25 years have passed. The time is so hazy now. The Heir is 20, and The Spare is 15, and ... my goodness. How did this come to pass?

I've probably cooked dinner 7,500 times. I've packed 3,600 school lunches and done 5,260 loads of laundry. I've fed the cats 3,250 times. Decibel the Parrot has gotten a bowl of bird food 8,306 times.

Snap! Done and done again.

To those of you wondering how to stay married for 25 years, I can't give you much advice.

One thing Mr. Johnson and I have in common is that we're not restless people. We don't flit. We even go the same place for summer vacation every year, and when we get there we sit together and stare out at the Chesapeake Bay together.

We both like to read newspapers. We're both pro-union liberals. We always vote the same ticket. We don't always agree on child-rearing, and it's those differences in philosophy that generally lead to our occasional arguments. Otherwise we smile at each other most of the time. When we're not worried about this and that.

Mr. Johnson would tell you that he's been a trial to live with, and I've been a saint for putting up with him. How nice of him to overlook the fact that he's spent 30 years with a wacky woman who flirts with turkey vultures and who carries on whole conversations with a cast of imaginary characters she's concocted to keep her company. Mr. Johnson lives daily with a mate who thinks nothing of mouthing back at South Jersey tough guys who criticize her driving. And he's patient as can be with all the faeries, and the Rituals, and the altars, and all the Pagan stuff. All of it. Actually he likes it a lot better than he did the church lady Methodist stuff.

So, here's to 25 years of partnering! I know it's been that long because the trees in my yard have thicker trunks now. Heir is in college, Spare is beautiful, Alpha the cat has lost her teeth. Only Decibel looks the same. And sounds the same. Which is loud.

Maybe I will give all you young lovebirds a little advice. Have a very small wedding -- less than 20 guests. You'll save a ton of money, and you'll still be just as married as these big spenders who dump $45,000 on a single day in their lives. Think of all the things you can do with $45,000. That will pay for many, many summer vacations staring at the Chesapeake Bay. And all the laundry detergent you'll ever need.

13 comments:

Paula said...

Congratulations on 25 years of marriage. I hope you and Mr. Johnson enjoy the next 25 with as much enthusiasm.

I can't help but wonder about people who state that their wedding day will be the happiest day of thier lives. Really? No wonder the divorce rate is almost 50 percent.

Servitor Lucem said...

Congratulations, Anne (and Mr. J.). I tried posting to Facebook, but, for some reason, FB won't let me comment today.

Alex Pendragon said...

Me and THE Wife just had our 16th.....we think....we lose track, as if it matters. We were married when The Goddess shed light on this rock, as far as we know.....

Hecate said...

Blessings on you and Mr. J.

May you see your grandchildren's grandchildren.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Congratulations on your Silver Anniversary! Go for the Gold! Hell, go for the Diamond!

yellowdoggranny said...

25 years....ain't ya'll something?
congratulations...here's to another 25 more...

Pom said...

Happy belated anniversary to you both. May you enjoy many more with the same smiles shining on your faces.

I think "partnering" says everything when it comes to making marriage work/last.

Aquila ka Hecate said...

I know it sounds cheesy and all - but I think it's beautiful when I see a partnership working.
Pom said it - it's a partnership, and to see two people who value the relationship more than the consideration of what each may get out of it is wonderful.
It does take a certain level of maturity on both sides.

Love and Blessings,
Terri in Joburg

Maebius said...

Congrats, conga-rats, and all sorts of wonderful anniversary blessings to you and the Mister. :)
What a great thing you have there!

Teacats said...

Brightest of all Blessings on your Silver Anniversary! Hope you have a lovely time -- and celebrate with joy! Thanks for sharing! DH and I have been married for 28 years -- and most important -- we still like each other! And best of all -- we share the same kind of humor -- dark and weird! LOL!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Mama Kelly of 2 Witches Blog said...

Happy Anniversary and many blessings to you both

Maggie said...

Congrats to you both- and what lovely words!

this is my first visit to your blog and I love it. Smart, funny, charming- everything I love in a blog!

I'll be back- you've been warned! :)

democommie said...

Anne:

Happy Anniversary:

I have a pair of sisters who've been married 40 years and another that's been married about 35. Their marriages seem to work because there isn't a constant jockeying for position. And they have beautiful children as well.