61st Anniversary

Hello Dear Friend,

Sunday was Bob's and my anniversary.
Sixty-one years!
Amazing number of years have passed.
Amazing experiences those years have held.

First time Bob took me on date,
Out for breakfast (my favorite meal).
Ordered eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast.
Ate it all.

Decided I was still hungry.
Ordered pancakes.
Ate them all!

Bob unsure about courting this
Ravenous eater!
Expensive.

It was a comical beginning!
I have tapered way back.

When Bob and I were about forty years old,
We had a terrible, brink-of-divorce separation.
Awful, awful time.

We were able to heal together,
With marriage far better than before.
Lucky folks.
Sixty-one years has held wide variety of life.

Won't surprise you to know that I started thinking of
Our sixty-one years in terms of a bike ride.

Lengths of smooth, flat trails.
Areas of heavy traffic.
Roads with pot-holes.
Big hills to pedal up.

For me, big hills on a bike,
Require my noticing some marker a short distance ahead.
Pedaling to that marker,
Cheering myself when I get there.
And continuing uphill.

Finally, the top.
Where I can stop and take in the broader view.
Whatever that "broader view" means.

Might mean same highway.
Undoubtedly more hills at some time.

Might mean shifting the route,
With different priorities, scheduling, activities.

Maybe it's looking around.
Noticing how far I've pedaled,
How far I have traveled.

Whatever "big hill" you climb,
I wish you time to catch your breath,
To notice the view,
And cheer yourself for getting there.

Right now, this is gratefully smooth trail.
Celebrating anniversary with two delicious meals out.
Our "dates" usually incorporate food.
Maybe always.

Hugs to each of you.
May your days please you.
Stay healthy.

Love,
Lin