On this date in 1975, Tim and I officially join forces to create our own family unit. We were young, but we both knew without question that this was one marriage that would stand whatever tests came our way. Could we ever have imagined that 44 years later we’d be celebrating our anniversary in Lisbon, Portugal, having taken residence in that country? Not a chance, but why should we have imagined that when so many other life experiences caught us by surprise as well.
Could we have dreamed we’d eventually raise five children? No way. Did we ever envision such a diverse and interesting clan? Not in a million years. Would we have predicted that we’d both have such mediocre and ultimately inconsequential careers? Nope. We’ve been surprised by some of the curves life has shown us, but we’ve never been surprised by each other. We knew what we had in each other going into this, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
At dinner tonight, on the rooftop terrace of an Art Deco era hotel overlooking historic Lisbon, we toasted to 44 more years together. Hey, it could happen! We both have longevity genes, and people are living longer these days through the marvel of pharmacology. If both of us suddenly lost vast amounts of weight, kept it off for the next four decades, and began taking our health and fitness seriously, why couldn’t we live to 110? And if we did, the toast on our anniversary would be to 88 more years. I’m always greedy for more time with Tim. What better place to celebrate that than in this beautiful, timeless city?