Thursday, July 05, 2007

How many years?

15.

That, according to the calendar, is how long my wife and I have been married. We celebrated our anniversary today by once again going to the beach in Grand Bend and just being us. It was an amazing day.

But it just doesn't feel like it's been that long. In so many ways, it feels like it's gone by in a blink. Just yesterday we got married. Just yesterday we rented our first apartment and set up our first home. Just yesterday we decided to start a family. Just yesterday we welcomed our son into the world and drove him home with the hazards on. Just yesterday we pulled up stakes and moved to another city. Just yesterday we added two more amazing little folks to our family and watched our three kids grow into incredible people in their own right.

Just yesterday I saw her for the first time and felt like my life had changed in some inexplicably good way. Just yesterday I rode my bike home from her house on a warm summer's evening and knew that she was the one. I wish I knew how 15 years seem to have gone by seemingly overnight.

On the other hand, 15 feels like forever. I don't remember what life was like without her. I don't remember a world that didn't have three smaller versions of us intertwined in our lives. I don't remember what our home was like when it didn't fill slowly with patter and little voices in the morning. I don't remember what it was like to not hear her voice as I slowly awoke. I don't remember what it was like to sleep alone. I don't remember what it was like to not be thinking about her every waking moment. I don't remember what it was like to write before I had my inspiration. I don't wish to ever remember what my life was like before she was a part of it.

It seems like yesterday, and it seems like forever. At the same time. I can't begin to explain the dichotomy, but I don't think I need to. I just need to say thank you for that lightning bolt of incredible luck all those years ago. I just need to say thank you to her for knowing we were bashert (fated) even before I did. I just need to say thank you to her for somehow keeping our family's life on track despite the craziness that I have always brought to it. It isn't easy being married to an always-on creative like me. Yet she somehow makes it seem easy.

Simply put, I am what I am because of her. My life wouldn't have been anywhere near as fulfilling if I hadn't experienced it with her. Indeed, all of this was meant to be.

Call me greedy, but I want a lot more than 15 more years. I don't know how one person deserves as much as I have. But now that I've had it for as long as I've had it, I wish it would never end.

If you haven't met her, please visit her blog and share a wish with her.

Your turn: The Flintstones "Happy Anniversary" song is once again ringing in my ears. How do you mark major anniversaries and/or milestones in your life? Do you count your blessings?

One more thing: I reread my entries from last year and the year before, just because. They brought me peace. If you're new to the blog and you want a smile, feel free to click back in time and see where I come from.

40 comments:

kenju said...

Carmi, I have told you this before - butyou are a "keeper". Morah Mommy is a lucky woman!

Just yesterday I was married (it was 43 years) and it does seem like forever.

Michele was smart eno9ugh to send me here tonight!

b13 said...

Been together for 13 years (I love that number) and married for 6 of them. Sometimes it still feels like our first date.

tommie said...

What a great tribute to your wife! Happy anniversary!

Anna said...

Happy Anniversary Carmi!

This was so moving to read and as my husband and I are getting ready to celebrate 12 years, I feel all those same things...

Beautifully written and more importantly...beautifully lived.

Michael K. Althouse said...

Happy anniversary Carmi!~

It would have been my 20th this year, but it never even made it to five. As it was supposed to be, I guess. Relationships have not been my forte. As far as milestones... well it took a while, but I am finally starting to put some significant streaks together. Anniversaries of different sorts that are reaching durations of two, three, four years - still going with a long way yet to go.

Michele sent me,

Mike

Lifelong Learner said...

Congratulations, Carmi! Did you think your marriage would be the adventure that it is? I know I didn't. It's great fun, isn't it?

Blessings on this your anniversary.

Enjoy

Susan said...

Hi Carmi,
I came here via a link on Chads blog.
What a beautiful tribute to your lives together. I went through a few Kleenexes reading that! Then I read it out loud to my husband. He isnt a writer, but I could imagine hime saying those very same things. We will soon have our 22nd anniversary, It gets better every year. It is hard to believe that our marriage can continue to keep growing.
Heres to many more anniversaries!
I enjoyed your other posts and your Canadian content. I will return.
Thanks.

Tawn said...

congratulations~ i totally "get" the dichotomyof yesterday & forever. we're 2 months away fromour 18th anniversary and i feel the same way.

twobuyfour said...

Congratulations to you both! I know just what you're speaking of. It seems like only yesterday that I met her, but it's been so long I can't even recall how many years without asking her. Our lives and histories and futures are so intertwined they may as well be one.

Love is an amazing thing. Keep telling her so she doesn't ever doubt it.

Ms Mac said...

Well congratulations to you both. I know the dichotomy of which you write well. Yesterday but forever- curious but wonderful!

Star said...

Beautiful post Carmi. Happy Anniversary. We celebrate our wedding anniversary as well as the anniversary of our first daye. On both my husband will sing the Flintstones anniversary song to me.

Leanne said...

Happy Anniversary to you! It's very obvious why you've made it this far, and why you'll make it for many more. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Carmi, what a SWEET and BEAUTIFUL tribute to your wife! And Happy Anniversary!!

Wow, 15 years. Nothing to sneeze at! We've been married for 17 years and like you, I can't remember my life before my husband. It's been quite a ride and one I would definitely purchase another ticket to!

We didn't do anything special for our last anniversary - we didn't feel the need to. We appreciate and savor one another every day of the year - the date just makes it official. *smile* However, that won't fly so well when we hit our 20th; I want to take another cruise, this time with our boys.

Isn't it awesome when two people meet and they just know they were destined to be together. It's hard to describe, it's just a deep-down click somewhere in the very depths of your soul - you just KNOW. That's how I felt with my husband, too.

Focus on the good times and keep negotiating your marriage (because we all know that conditions change over time) and you'll come out with a stronger bond than what you started out with.

Oh, Michele says Happy Anniversary, too! :-)

ƒåυνέ said...

Happy Anniversary!

I didn't know your wife blogged as well, so thank you so much for sharing the link.

Anonymous said...

Congratuations to you & your wife! 15 years is a long time, I was married for 9 myself & you're so right about how it feels like no time at all & a lot of time at the same time.

Pirate Princess said...

Happy Belated Anniversary - Your post is a beautiful tribute. We celebrated our 16th year a little earlier this year. It is hard to believe isn't it?

Thanks for visiting the other day, I'm just now getting around to responding with the move going on. :)

David Edward said...

well, done friend.
as of this week,my number is 24. but it is divided into 2 parts. 12 together and twelve apart. sigh

you did well, off to congratulate Mrs. Levy

Em said...

Congratulations. Best wishes for many, many more.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful piece of writing.

Michele sent me here to Wish you happy Anniversary!

awareness said...

Beautiful tribute to your life partner....... congratulations to you and the love of your life. :)

I celebrate my 20th anniversary this December. Your description of how it seems like yesterday and forever is how I feel as well. Since we were married between Christmas and New years we often don't celebrate our anniversary. This year however, I hope we will be planning a trip somewhere the following year to celebrate.

Congratulations Carmi.

Unknown said...

How touching!! I hope my husband feels the same about me, and me him, in 13 years (Our second anniversary is coming son).

Congratulations and here's to many more!!

Thumper said...

Happy anniversary!

I have to admit, we rarely celebrate ours. We tend to simply forget...even this last one, the big 25, we didn't remember for about a week.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Michele sent me.

I know how you feel. I've been married 2 and a half years and it feels the same way. Can't wait for 15+ years. We don't mark/celebrate milestones very much but spending some time hanging out just being "us" sounds about right.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to you and your wife, Carmi! That's awesome...

We should all be as lucky as you guys.

I always am thankful for my life, and the exceptional people that I'm surrounded by... Even single.

Happy Friday -- Michele sent me here, but I would have been here anyhow!

D.O.M. Dan said...

I absolutely count my blessings. I am very greatful to have my wife of 7 years, our 2 children, and the one on the way.

Happy Anniversary to the two of you.

Sara said...

What a wonderful tribute to your wife and family. I would say she too is most fortunate to have found you.

Much happiness to you and may there be many more years of it for both of you.

Linda said...

You are so wonderfully blessed with the gifts of photography and words...you create such a beautiful tribute to your wife. I wish my husband could be so eloquent. He shows his love much differently...but I still love him fully for it.

Happy 15...and another 15x5 more!

p.s. - I celebrate 9 this year!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Mazel Tov on fifteen, Carmi!

We just passed ten, ourselves. I share many of your sentiments. Our spouses are saints.

Moon said...

Congrats to you both. As I wrote in Morah's blog..I love what u both wrote about the other. Bless u both with continued happiness for many many more yrs to come...something tells that will be a certainty.

MorahMommy said...

Thank you my darling. Yesterday was magical as the last 15 years have been. I am looking forward to all the adventures that await us!

craziequeen said...

Congratulations to you and Morahmommy, Carmi honey :-D
I have been to visit the dear lady, as you know.

Sadly MB and I never married (he never asked!), so I haven't had a single anniversary in 22 years........
Guess that's one way to save money [wry smile]

Doesn't stop me being thrilled for friends and family who celebrate their love every year.

Enjoy the garden set, my friend.

cq

photowannabe said...

Carmi, this is such a wonderful tribute to your eife and your years together. The words are a treasure which are better than any actual present.
Hubby and I are going on 44 years this January. I can't really remember ever being single. I wouldn't trade this life for anything.
Happy Anniversary
Sue

caramaena said...

Congratulations!

Nestor Family said...

Wow! Now THAT is love!

Congratulations on the wonderful milestone, Carmi! Blessing to you and your wife.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

And as I said to your dear wife, Carmi...
I wish you 5 times 15 MORE years together, at the very least!

Beautiful words and feelings expressed on this Happy Anniversary...you are the master of words, Carmi, as well as the master of the camera!
HUGS TO YOU BOTH!

Diane Perin said...

What a lovely anniversary tribute! Your wife is lucky to have you.

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Carmi,
Wow, your tribute post to your wife and marriage to her was awesome! I'm sure she is honored.

You know, I've seen the image you have on here of your wife, and I must say that you two really look like you belong together and were meant for each other. It's amazing.

I'm a very single "Bachelor", so our lives contrast quite a bit.

Your post backs up my belief in what marriage can be in this world of broken relationships.

Thank you for sharing your love for your wife and family with us.

Anonymous said...

Happy 'belated' Anniversary! A great post. We will be celebrating our 21st next month and yes, as much as we give each other a hard time, I know the both of us absolutely count our blessings. Three children, with one moved out and going to College. I'll tell you. It goes by in the blink of an eye!

CG said...

Happy, happy anniversary!!I was very moved reading your lovely post. P and I have been married almost 20 years;together for 24. I can't imagine life without him...although it hasn't all been plain sailing!

Lori said...

This is very sweet and endearing. What a tribute to your lovely wife and your years together. May you share many more wonderful times together. Only 35 to go until the "50th"!

Happy (late) anniversary!