20 YEARS...the first date
We still remember the place we went on our first date. We went every year for the first three years until they went out of business. Now we have a new tradition at a different restaurant. That's on the menu this weekend. More on that later.
20 YEARS....16 + 4
It's been 20 years together but with a twist. While a few of you know this, many do not. Four years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized marriage for us, we got married. We were able to use our anniversary date as our wedding date so it's always the same. It was a small civil ceremony with two wonderful friends to witness it. Irony of ironies, the judge knew 2nd Man's parents from years ago. He was so excited to perform our ceremony. For us it was wonderful to get the acknowledgement and validation of our love for each other and great to finally have all the same legalities that all married couples have had. No more worrying about hospital visitation if needed, no more worrying about financial issues, buying and selling property, we even get a better deal now by filing taxes jointly. Sometimes it's the things others take for granted that mean the most to those who have never had them.
20 YEARS...take the good with the bad
There have been good times but also sad times. Too much loss (all four of my grandparents and both of my parents, a dear friend, and two of our beloved kitties). Thankfully those are offset by many more happy times. Our first house. The purchase of the farm and land. All the sweat equity we've put into making a place for our future. And of course LOTS of wonderful food.
20 YEARS...of adventures
A few job changes for both of us and a few moves. Then toss in a couple of tropical storms and a couple of major hurricanes. Add in some great trips and vacations. We have had a great life together so far and can't wait for the adventures of the next 20 and beyond.
20 YEARS...together
As we remind each other every year, in the end the most important thing is that we have each other.
"Just you and me" we like to say...
"that's all that truly matters".
Dang, had it written down and forgot all about it being your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you both and many more wonderful years to come.
Enjoy your day.
No worries, thank you so much!
DeleteHappy Anniversary and congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCongratulations! Wishing you double those years in the future! Roderick. P.S. In celebration of the event, could we not have your real first names instead of the dreadful "1st Man" "2nd Man"?
ReplyDeleteThank you! Well I didn't know it was dreadful, ha, but I understand. With our first names, mine especially, it's unique enough that someone with a little detective work could find the address of the farm. Since we're not there full time, we'd rather not put that out there. I think the military calls it "OP-SEC", ha. But one of these days! Stay tuned!
DeleteAll the very best and may you continue to have long and happy lives and may all your dreams come true!
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind, thank you!
DeleteAaawwww...happy anniversary you two love birds! That was such a beautiful post. The happy times definitely outweigh the sad ones. Wishing all the best for many MANY MORE loving years together!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, thank you much. So true, happiness always wins in the end.
DeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCongratulations. 20 years speaks of respect, compromise, support and keeping love alive. Well done!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's very touching, thank you for that.
DeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
DeleteThe best thing to hold onto in life is each other. Warmest Wishes and Happy Anniversary! Wishing you many, many more!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to your 20 years together. "A joy shared, is a joy doubled. A sorrow shared, is a sorrow halved."
That quote is beautiful. Thank you for this. So much. Hugs!
DeleteHappy, happy anniversary. May you always feel about each other, the way you do today. Xx
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you very much! We will do our best to live up to that!
DeleteMy goodness! It's always so wonderful when two people find love and are together for life through the good and the sad. Happy anniversary. May you both grow old together on your little farm and have many more great years together.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful thoughts and sweet words.
DeleteWant to congratulate you on your anniversary. My husband and I will raise a toast to you tonight--two couples strangers to one another, but then love is love, and we should celebrate that. He and I celebrated 28 years on Aug. 1. It will be six years legal in Dec. Here's to you both.
ReplyDeleteWe'll hello and thank you both! Strangers here toasting you back! 28 years! And six years married. Love it! Thank you and don't be a stranger, come back and say hello! Cheers!
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Today is also the anniversary of when Dh and I had our first date - 46 years ago! Time definitely flies when you're having fun!
ReplyDelete46 years! So we have 26 more years to catch up to you, ha. Course we'll be 80 or so. Fingers crossed!! ha. Thanks again!!!
Deletehappy anniversary to you guys!!! the most wonderful thing in the world is finding someone to love and spend your life with. having the farm dangling in front of you is wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! You are too kind. Thanks so much!!!
DeleteWOO HOO! 20 years! through your writings, I can tell the 2 of you love each other. CONGRATULATIONS!
ReplyDeleteyou share your anniversary with another of my friends:
https://movingwithmitchell.com/2019/08/16/that-face-esa-cara
Thank you sweet Anne Marie! I just spent about 20 minutes checking out their blog. Thanks for the link. I will have to save that on our blogroll and go back when I have more time and read more.
Deletecongratulations and those rights you shared are important!! Wishing you both many more years together.
ReplyDeleteThey are, small things but important. Thank you very much!!!
DeleteHappy anniversary brother. I wish you and my brother in law the very best and with so many more years to come!!!
ReplyDeleteHey there girl! Thank you very much (fyi readers, not an actual sister, a very sweet friend who calls me her brother, ha).
DeleteWhat a wonderful ongoing love story! Congratulations to you both!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks!!!
DeleteA very Happy Anniversary (and many more to come) to you both.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much!!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary! It's so wonderful to have someone to share your life with, to support each other through the rough times and celebrate the good.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful, I can't imagine being alone to go through that. We do celebrate the good for sure. Thanks!!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary! And many more. My husband and I are together 32 years. We know each other so well that tonight we broke out singing 'Sweet Caroline' at a cafe spontaneously as the music played in the background. lol
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you for this! 32 years? Congrats!!!! We tend to finish each others sentences or get cued by a show or something on the radio and almost always say the same thing. Thanks again!! Congrats to you both!
DeleteHappy anniversary! Life always has sad moments that's why it's so important to have someone to share it with.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. It is very important because we can share it and not hold it all in.
DeleteThat came out wrong but you get my meaning. Lil
ReplyDeleteWe totally understood. Thanks! Hugs to you from both of us!!
DeleteI totally agree that love is love and wish the best for the two of you for many years to come. I'm glad you have each other to share the good times as well as the bad.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words, they mean a lot!
DeleteCongratulations on twenty years of love amd the rest of life that happens. I am glad your union is "legal" to avoid hospital visits. That always seemed so sad.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, thank you! Yes, we've seen with some friends that whole hospital thing and it's horribly cruel. Thank you again!!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Wishing you many more years of love and happiness!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteCongratulations and many more years ahead!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wishes!!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary. May there be many many more.
ReplyDeleteAmen!! Thank you so much!
DeleteHappy anniversary and Congrats! My husband and I celebrate our first date on Aug 30th, and our wedding anniversary on 9/27. It will be 12 years for that, and while we appreciate the legalities that brings we really consider 8/30 our true anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you that same sex marriages (what a cumbersome title) are legal for so many to have the option.
Wishing you many, many decades of happiness ahead!
Shelley
Awww, congrats to you both as well!! We were so lucky, we always celebrated our first date as our anniversary and when the Supreme Court legalized it, it was just a few weeks before our anniversary date and that's when we thought we'd see if we could get something set up for that date. And we were able to! It was going to be the day after but when I called the courthouse I spoke to the judge's assistant and explained and the moved some stuff around so we could get the date. So awesome.
DeleteYou know for awhile we would say "same sex marriage" but we finally just dropped it and say marriage. Because in the end that is what it is, ha.
Thanks again!!!
Happy Anniversary now and many more to come .... from our house to yours!!! Best wishes and happy days!!!
ReplyDeleteHey there!!! So nice to hear from you. Thanks and best to you both as well!!!
DeleteWhile it's wonderful to celebrate the length of time together, it's so fitting to mention the rough patches that were just a little less rough because you have that special someone to be there to help you get through. I too lost my parents recently & can't even imagine not having my special someone to give me a hug, share my sadness etc. I'm so happy to follow your blog & be able to congratulate you both! May you have many joyful years ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteYour words touched us as well. Thank you for this. Please accept cyber hugs from us to help you through your difficult times. It's such an odd feeling when you've lost both parents. Hang in there and thank you again.
DeleteI was very proud too be at your wedding! I think you're one of the most successful marriages I've ever known, all 20 years of it. 🧡💛💚💙💜♥️
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you for this. We wanted you there and you came for us. We will be forever grateful for that. Thanks again! Luv ya!!!
DeleteA lovely post. Happy Anniversary.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you for saying this. Thanks again!!
DeleteCongratulations! I do remember when you got married.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! Thank you for the well wishes!!!
DeleteCheers! Enjoy 20 more!
ReplyDeleteHey Mike!!! Thank you very much, we appreciate it!!
Deletehappy anniversary! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks and XOXO to you from both of us!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHey there!! Thank you much!!
DeleteHappy Anniversary and many happy returns :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it must be to have a true partner to share the ups and downs, as seasons and years roll along. You must feel blessed!
If I knew how to add emojis, I'd put a row of hearts right here...try to imagine them, okay? :)
We can "see" the row of hearts. You are so very sweet. Thank you for this. Blessings right back to you!
DeleteA belated Happy Anniversary to you both! It is such a treasure to see two people in love celebrate the milestones.
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you so much for this, We appreciate it and thank you again!!!
Delete