Dept. of Joy

[kaffy_r]

Thirty Three Years

We have a beautiful card that sits on our mantelpiece. It's a reproduction of a Chinese painting. On a separate cover sheet is a single English word, and the Chinese symbol that represents the same concept; contentment.

Inside, BB wrote: "Your head. My chest. Our bed. 20 years."

That was 13 years ago. It has never left the mantelpiece.

Four homes, eight cats, one son, 10 or so jobs, seven or so used cars, 10 or so computers, various life-threatening ailments and five different hair colors between us.

One life together, where the worse is always made better, and the better is always turned into the best; where the ride is roller-coaster, the sorrow is bearable, the joy is sharable, the sex is probably none of your business, the laughs occasionally uncontrollable.

He is my lover, my best friend, and so much more.

Who cares if he doesn't make the bed the way I like to make the bed?

Comments

[owlboy]

BAWWW TRUE LOVE ;_;

[kaffy_r]

And true like, too. That's the magic ingredient, or one of them. ♥

[shanghaied]

Wow, I remember that! Had 25 years of it, once...

[kaffy_r]

I'm glad you had 25 years; I hope you have it, or part of it at least, again.

[shanghaied]

At my age, in my situation, the unlikelihood of that is pretty much a dead cert ~shrugs~

OTOH - not dead, not homeless (yet), not in an actual prison (so far), deathseeds still quiescent (maybe), only mildly disabled, still earning the occasional crust to stave off the worst of our ever-increasing financial collapse, mostly getting the sort-of-better of the hereditary mental illness, and still having actual moments - even the occasional hour or two - of joy and productivity. Could be worse. Probably will be. But not today.

Also, soon be hobbits...

[shanghaied]

Oops, forgot to do the earthling thing: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIFTH-OF-A-CENTURY! :-)

No,wait - should have paid more attention to the post itself. That's CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ALMOST EXACTLY A THIRD OF A CENTURY!!!

:D

[st_aurafina]

Aww, you guys! Congratulations!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you! And may you and your beloved have as many years!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

So very joyful for both of you. Happy Anniversary!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you, my dear!

[eaweek.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful (and funny), So wonderful that you're still crazy about each other 33 years later. Congratulations!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you - not only are we still crazy about each other, we're still crazy. Heh.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Ohh, Happy Anniversary!!

*Wipes away happy tears*

This is so, so lovely. Bless you my dearest lady. And blessings to BB. You found the ultimate in life with him, sweetie. And he didn't do too shabby, either! *Winks*

Lots of love to you both. And here is to many more years of the joy you two have together, yes?

*HUGS*

[kaffy_r]

It takes work, and the work is absolutely worth it; you know that, too, don't you, my dear!

Thank you for the anniversary wish!

*hugs back*

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Considering we just went through a rather rough patch the last couple of weeks and just sat down and talked (and solved a lot of problems) in one foul swoop this morning? Yeah. I definitely know. Do I still love him to pieces? Absolutely! But it is work. Happens when you have two adult individuals under one roof, lol!

Always, honey. You two are the best. And your being together just...brings me joy!

[kaffy_r]

Oh, yes, the first rule is keep talking. The other first rule is keep listening. It's hard, but the rewards are great. All my best to you and your sweetie!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear!! And thank you, dearest!

*Laughs*

It's funny, in our circle of friends, we are...I guess the last bastion. People look to us and say 'Well! Michael and Amanda are still together, so the world can't possibly end yet.' *Grins* Pretty much got told that the other day by a friend of ours who was concerned and upset over the tension between us. We BOTH had to assure him. We're big about communication, but this was one instance where...communication had to wait until the right moment. Otherwise we would have only been snarking and snarling and making things worse. But...it got sorted. And everyone ELSE is feeling better, too, lol!!

Sorry, sorry...rambley today.

*SQUISHES YOU*

[kaffy_r]

Being rambley is just fine! And you're right; certain types of communication need exactly the right moment. (Sometimes it's just when you're tired of being angry, and the false pride is eroded by loneliness.

And now it's me being rambley.

*hugs*

[mack-the-spoon.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! <3

[kaffy_r]

Thank you, my dear!

[hamsterwoman]

A very happy anniversary to you!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you - the anniversary has been lovely so far!

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, happy anniversary to you both! ♥

[kaffy_r]

♥♥♥

Thank you!

♥♥♥

[supergee.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

[kaffy_r]

Hooray, indeed!

[maruad.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary ... but seriously, he can't make the bed properly? Are you certain this will last? :->

[kaffy_r]

seriously, he can't make the bed properly? Are you certain this will last?

*snrk*

Yep. And he stacks the dishwasher weirdly. Oh, the things I put up with ....

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

♥ This is beautiful. A beautiful post for a beautiful story—reminds us all that love can still keep shining strong through the years ;) Happy anniversary, and I wish you two the best for many more years ahead! ♥

[kaffy_r]

reminds us all that love can still keep shining strong through the years

Oh, aye. Last night, I said to BB that one of the odder reasons I was glad we were still together was that it makes me happy to think that other people will look at us and think, 'If it could happen to them, it could happen to me.'

Thank you so much for the good wishes!

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I love you for that reason. ♥ This is so true though. We all need to remember such things.

*hugs*

[liadt]

Happy Anniversary and to another 33 years!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you so much - and I have to tell you that I love your icon, because we have two large ginger kitties who sleep on top of each other, just like the two in your icon do.

[liadt]

Thanks:) I hope they leave some room on the sofa for you;p

[namarie24.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to you both!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you!