On Friday, I went to Sam’s to do some shopping and there was a woman there with her husband. He was in a wheelchair and rolled along sedately with her while she was pushing the basket. They were chattering away about everything from the groceries they were looking at to their Halloween plans. The husband was insisting the wife should go with the grandkids and he would take care of the trick or treaters who came to the door.
Moments in Time
I was on the same aisle with them and I listened to their natural chatter that flowed back and forth between them and I guess I got caught staring. I apologized when they both looked at me and then I smiled at them.
”I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. You both just seem so wonderful.”
They both laughed and the man asked: “Are you married, young lady?”
“Yes. 7 years this October, but we’ve been together for about 10 ½ years now.”
”Oh, you’re just babies.” The woman laughed. “You haven’t even gotten to the good part.”
“Oh?” I was intrigued. I admit it. “When is the good part?”
“20 years.”
“30 years.”
They were both so certain and they both laughed.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why those decades?”
“Oh, at 20 years, you don’t worry so much about who forgot to put the dishes up and who didn’t pick up the mail on their way in the door. You just do what you have to do.”
Her husband smiled at her and there was such a look of utter love and devotion in his face, I actually felt it myself. “I liked 30 years because by then we had two grandkids and I thought motherhood was well suited to her. Grandmotherhood though — my my – it was beyond well-suited to her.”
She laughed at him and I smiled at both of them. “That’s great. Well – congratulations again and thanks for sharing with me.”
All Good Things Come in Time
“Of course, young lady. It was a pleasure to meet you. Just you wait – you think things are good now? Give it till your twentieth or your first grandchild – it just gets better and better.”
50 years. I can hardly imagine a marriage that lasts for 50 years and yet I look at them and I know – they probably had their share of problems over the years. I’m sure there were days of great fun and days of great irritation. I’m sure they bickered. I’m sure they made up. As they continued up the aisle with her still pushing the basket and he trailing after her in his wheelchair; I could still hear their voices — the conversation that lasts 50 years – the things they’ve seen, talked about and done. From the mundane to the extraordinary – what an inspiration.
I can’t wait till our 20th year to see what all the fuss is about.
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