Thirty-nine Years
Thirty-nine years ago today, we were married. R- was in the Army, about to head for 'Nam. I was in the Marines, stationed at HQMC. We honeymooned in Texas, mostly camping (including in Big Bend and the Davis Mountains) and then were separated for a year by half the planet and a war.
After that, we both got additional degrees (back in Texas, different schools) and lived variously in Austin, San Antonio, McAllen and, now, here: north of Austin.
We've had the normal ups and downs of life--hopes denied and finally given up, other hopes fulfilled, troubles that shook us and joys that shook us as much. No biological children--bummer. Adopted kid--joy (in spite of the autism or because of it???) Financial woes--bummer. Financial success--unstable, unpredictable, but joy when it happens, for however long.
He makes me laugh. I make him laugh. He is the person to whom I said, one day when he came home "Guess what--they just found the Bose-Einstein concentrate!" and he said "Yes! I saw it on the internet--isn't that great?" and we both could trust that the other a) knew what a Bose-Einstein concentrate was (well, as much as any nonphysicist) and b) cared that it had been found. Our interests and tastes don't overlap exactly (which is healthy--no folie a deux stuff going on) but enough for convenience.
I can't imagine being with anyone else for those 39 years. It's been a ride and a half. I hope it continues a long time.
After that, we both got additional degrees (back in Texas, different schools) and lived variously in Austin, San Antonio, McAllen and, now, here: north of Austin.
We've had the normal ups and downs of life--hopes denied and finally given up, other hopes fulfilled, troubles that shook us and joys that shook us as much. No biological children--bummer. Adopted kid--joy (in spite of the autism or because of it???) Financial woes--bummer. Financial success--unstable, unpredictable, but joy when it happens, for however long.
He makes me laugh. I make him laugh. He is the person to whom I said, one day when he came home "Guess what--they just found the Bose-Einstein concentrate!" and he said "Yes! I saw it on the internet--isn't that great?" and we both could trust that the other a) knew what a Bose-Einstein concentrate was (well, as much as any nonphysicist) and b) cared that it had been found. Our interests and tastes don't overlap exactly (which is healthy--no folie a deux stuff going on) but enough for convenience.
I can't imagine being with anyone else for those 39 years. It's been a ride and a half. I hope it continues a long time.