April 7, 2009 - 30 Years of Marriage

Today, Dan and I celebrate 30 years of marriage. Nearly 4 years ago, Dan almost died. I rejoice that we get to celebrate an anniversary today.



Below is a reflection I wrote about our marriage on our 23rd Anniversary. Now, I would end this reflection with ".....I'm grateful that Dan is alive and that we have a loving and supportive family. We have so much to be thankful for!"

Anyway...enjoy the reflection I wrote on our 23rd Anniversary! When I wrote it, we'd spent over two decades together -- now, it is three!

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'We met on a camping trip to Catalina. It was Labor Day weekend 1978.

I was attracted to Dan since he was the only college grad on that
camping trip. I had just finished Colorado College, and Dan's older
brother had gone to Colorado College, so we had something to talk
about.

Our dating only went on for 3 months! We spent most of the time taking walks in the
Belmont Shore area of Long Beach talking about our families.

At the end of November we were engaged!

One day, we told eachother we were in love
over melted ice cream cones from Dairy Queen as we too a walk.

A month or two later, we were sitting in Dan's old Ford Falcon in
front of my Grandma Fannie's house, and we were talking about
marriage and committment. Now (don't laugh!), I blurted
out, "Dan, I think I'd like to marry you someday!" Dan was kind of
shocked at my statement, and said, "Is that a deal?" We shook hands!

Then we went inside of Grandma's house and told her, and she said
Mazel Tov!

That evening we took Grandma and her sister Molly out to the Katella
Deli and celebrated. Dan had his first kosher dill pickle that night!

When I look back now, it amazes me that I married someone I barely
knew, but we've somehow had 23 years, and
still like eachother!

We had a very quick engagement, and had an informal wedding. I wore
a borrowed dress and platform shoes from Goodwill since the dress was
too long. Dan wore a sportsjacket.

(Sidenote: I cried at weddings for years after that. That is why 10 years later, Dan and I had a 10 year wedding renewal. Anyway, I still cry
at weddings, but not because I didn't get a formal one. I wore a
beautiful dress at the 10 year renewal in 1989 and Dan wore a tux. I
smiled and felt loved that day. )








Well back to 1979. We were married on April 7, 1979 and spent our
honeymoon at my family's condo in Colorado Springs. Our honeymoon
consisted of us visiting the places in Colorado Springs that I had
told Dan about and also visiting the friends I had that
were still in Colorado and at Colorado College.

We returned home to southern California. Eventually, we moved into The Atherton House, and became part of a Commune for 3 years.

I started teaching skating in 1983 which took over our lives.

In 1988 we moved to San Francisco, and in late 1991 (it was almost 1992),
we returned to Colorado Springs, the place where our marriage really
began, the place where we honeymooned, and began a new life in
Colorado.

The past 10 plus years in Colorado Springs have been ones that have
been different in our marriage. Wow, a lot has happened! We had 3
children! In San Francisco, I had seen an infertility specialist
just before we left; our years of infertility seem like a vague
memory now. We bought a home here in 1995. I became a published author and
the book HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES is selling all over
the world. Dan quietly works in the background, but has become
admired and respected at the Veterans Affairs office he works at here
in the Springs.

Sometimes, I admit, I wonder what keeps us in love.
Things are not always easy. I do know that Dan loves me and we have
wonderful memories that cover more than 2 decades now.

Well, these are my reflections on 23 years of marriage this Sunday
morning. I am grateful for Sundays with Dan. They are the one day
we don't rush to work; I don't teach skating, and we just have a
chance to enjoy our family and our life.'