Today I have been married for 25 years. It’s a cause for celebration but also for contemplation. How did I get so lucky? I did not expect to marry at age 24 and maybe not at all. And then I encountered this Man and I knew right away.
Marriage is about compromise.
What exactly did I know? Well, the Man was unlike anyone else I had ever met. Very unexpected. I never thought I would know anyone who shared so many interests with me, yet was so utterly different. The knowledge was “This is right, this is good.” How did I know? To this day I think it was because he smelled right.
Marriage is surprising, in a good way.
Conventional wisdom has it that there’s something wrong with couples who never fight. Don’t believe it. Our roughest day was the wedding day. (NB to engaged couples: the wedding will be your first lesson in compromise.)
Marriage is about hard work. In this particular case, HIS.
There are some who say that marriage is only a piece of paper. I don’t agree. It is a publicly made commitment to another person, for life.
Marriage is about getting through the sad times, together…
And about the pleasures of companionship…
And about the mundane flow of passing time.
All marriages go through phases, because people change over time. My marriage has aged well. Maybe we can both take credit for that, or maybe we have just been lucky.
Marriage is about the comforts of home…
And about adventures.
Marriage can inspire wonder…
And delight.
After you’ve been married for a long time, you know your partner very well, and yet there is always more to learn. A long marriage creates a level of trust that is impossible with any other person. There’s no shortcut to that.
Marriage is about learning to trust…
Having courage…
Being able to give and receive love…
And living content in the moment.
It’s good if your partner is also your best friend, but there also has to be romance. For me anyway. I’m sure there are many formulas for success.
Marriage is about laughter…
About generosity…
And tenderness.
The Long Suffering Husband asked me what I wanted for our anniversary. I’ll take another 25 years.
The LSH.
Did I mention that marriage is about compromise?
Linnet Moss 
Happy anniversary!!!!
Thanks Herba!
Congratulations. Well said – and well done, I’d say!
Back home where I come from the “silver wedding anniversary” is a major celebration which you celebrate with your friends and family in much the same way as you did your initial wedding day. Are you planning a party, too?
Gods no. I guess I am not a party-type person. The wedding was enough of a “major celebration” to last me the rest of my life. I’m happy just to spend some quality time with the LSH, eat some delicious food and drink some good wine 🙂
And savor the fact that our anniversary is Bloomsday!
That is a very nice date to have the anniversary on, indeed.
Congratulations! Closing in on 31.
Many thanks, and congratulations to you!
I swear it feels like maybe only fifteen years have passed! I’m very fortunate.
Yes, I feel the same way. Hard to believe it has been this long 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I got misty eyed (truly) at this beautiful description of your union. Ah, yes, compromise. (The LSH has a lovely fizzog.) Enjoy your celebratory good food and wine. ☺️
Thank you Cheer! I cried my eyes out writing it. Honestly, I had to put cold cloths on my face afterward.
I can imagine, the depth of feeling really shines through. Just beautiful.
I made the galette last night!!! It was delicious even though I had to use gruyère. Couldn’t find the Comte in my grocery store! But I’ll definitely be making it again 🙂
Woohoo! Glad you got to it, I love Gruyere as well. Could go a slice of it right now….Even though it is a tad late..😁
Congratulations, linnet! Pleased to meet the LSH. Very beautiful your description about what live in couple is. 🙂
Thank you very much!
Congratulations! Hypothetically, if you wind up on a Mediterranean cruise to celebrate your 24th, and if that Mediterranean cruise hypothetically brings you to Turkey, don’t spend $5,000 on a rug. Or $4,000 on a ring. Also, don’t do the Turkish Bath. I know it seems like a good idea. But it’s not.
All of this is hypothetically speaking, of course.
LOL. Sounds like someone was hypothetically hitting the ouzo a little too hard during the cruise 🙂
But as a matter of fact I would love a Mediterranean cruise!
Friends had warned me about ‘cruise brain’. it’s like something clicks into the off position, and you lose your mind when it comes to spending money. Cruise buyer, beware.
Interesting! I have never been on a cruise, so I’ll have to watch out for that syndrome!
My first and last, Linnet. I spent more on cruise-week purchases than the cruise + airfare cost us. By a mile. 😦
Amazing! But not when you travel by other methods?
Nope!
Hi Linnet, congratulations to you and the LSH on your 25th wedding anniversary. Not an easy feat!
My parents just celebrated their 50th anniversary, and although they survived through good times and bad times and sickness and health it doesn’t come easy: it requires work and commitment, as you so aptly described.
Thanks so much Lonneke! It is quite an accomplishment to make it to 50 years. I hope we are as lucky as they 🙂
Congratulations Linnet!! I love this post and how you describe your married life! I can very much identify with what you say about your marriage as it very much sounds like my marriage too (we’ve been together for 23 years, married almost 16). Nice to see your LSH pop up in your post as well. Lookin’ good. 🙂
Thanks Esther! Some of these things are universals, so I was hoping others would see themselves in the post.
This piece just oozes with warmth. It flows from sweet to sour to savory with the delicacy of the perfect forkful of flavor.
I think you deftly pointed out the not so secret recipe for a successful marriage and friendship. There are many components, and the balance of these ingredients gets adjusted bit by bit through time.
I wish you both a marvelous celebration of your efforts and beautiful accomplishment. Here’s to a blissful 25 more, Linnet.
Cheers to you both!
Thanks Shelley! I like your metaphor of the tasty dish 🙂
What a lovely and uplifting post. Although I didn’t immediately know Hubby was “the one” (in fact, initial impression was “not my type”)… the first time I hugged him and inhaled him, I immediately knew that maybe my first impression had been “hasty” because yes, he smelled right and familiar and so comforting and enticing at the same time. And… LSH is a cutie! =)
Thank you! And thanks on behalf of the cutie 🙂
You describe the experience of the “right” scent very well.
Was ‘awwww-ing’ and ‘oohhh-ing’ and ‘ahhhh-ing’ all throughout the post 🙂
Congratulations!!!! Sounds like a wonderful 25 years together and wishing you at least twice as many more 🙂 I think you are both very lucky 😉
Enjoy your day!
We are indeed lucky! Many thanks for the good wishes 🙂
Congratulations! 🙂
Thank you !
So sweet and wise at the same time. Happy anniversary and wish you 25 more years of happiness. 🙂
Stefy
Many thanks, Stefy!
Happy Anniversary, Linnet & LSH. Maybe you’ll have to change his designation to LLSH now that you’ve reached 25 years. Lovely post.
Thanks Perry. We had a wonderful day 🙂
Congratulations are in order to both of you ! 🙂
Thank you Sylvie 🙂
NOW I know why you were googling marriage and smell! 🙂 Happy anniversary! PS. Your hubby is aging well for someone so loooooooooooooong-suffering 🙂
ROTFL. Let’s just say marriage isn’t always a bed of roses 🙂
And yes, the LSH has always been young looking. In that picture he is 56! Luckily I am 8 years younger than he so we are a good “match.”
“A long marriage creates a level of trust that is impossible with any other person. There’s no shortcut to that.”
So very true. I treasure this about being married. There’s nothing like it.
A lovely post, and Happy Anniversary!
Thanks Tina! It is indeed something to treasure 🙂
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Thank you!
Linnet–been out of town and just now read your beautiful entry. Happy belated Anniversary to you two. We just celebrated our 28th. There’s nothing more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right beside the one you love. To many more years!
Congratulations Donna! And thanks for the good wishes. We are two very lucky ladies 🙂
Happy anniversary. I’m glad you found him 🙂
Many thanks!
Linnet, I add my congratulations to the list. This is my favorite of your posts thus far. Lovely.
Aw, thank you Ellen. I am glad you enjoyed it. It definitely came from the heart 🙂
Your heart is as deep as your thought.
Awesome post, Linnet. And you and yours are very lucky indeed.
Thanks Stephen 🙂