Happy Anniversary!

Today is our wedding anniversary, #34, and we received this card today from Clare’s high school friend, Ellen, and Ellen’s family. We were able to spend half the morning today with Ellen’s mom, Ellen and her husband Larry, their daughter and son and the kids’ spouses. (Good grief, when did I get *so* old?) But I digress.

Back to the card. Ellen & Larry sent it to us twenty years ago for our 14th anniversary—
» Front of the card: “Happy Anniversary to a perfect couple”
» Inside: “And, yes, you can send this card back to us on our anniversary if you want to.”
So we did!

Their anniversary is 6+ weeks before ours, so Clare tucked the card away for more than 10½ months twenty years ago and we sent it back to them the following year! For the succeeding 19 years we have exchanged this one card!

Much happens in the lives of families over a span of 20 years, so this card has seen much. Children have grown up, moved away and maybe have been married. We have lost friends and loved ones. And, of course, we have aged. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for 34 wonderful years, Clare. And tolerating the many cameras I have toted over the years at all sorts of events and on many wonderful trips!

We celebrated the day with our daughters by
» visiting with Ellen and her family,
» visiting Clare’s Aunt Carol,
» seeing “Saving Mr. Banks” and
» having the world’s best ribs at Royal Oak’s Oxford Inn.
We also celebrated younger daughter Grace’s birthday, which is tomorrow, but the girls fly back to Boston tomorrow.

Next year? It’s a commercially-printed card and there is still room around the bar code on the back.

After filling-in around the bar code? Who will be the first to write on the front? Keep in mind: The more crowded the card becomes, the smaller we have to write. Meanwhile, as we get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to read the so-called “fine print”!

1 year ago (“‘Phamili’ Day 2012!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-12-29
2 years ago (“‘Phamili’ Day!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-12-29
3 years ago (“National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2010-12-29

[Danette Thompson]

How fortunate you are to have such great friends. Happy anniversary!

[Rick Schies]

That is such a cool idea, and Happy 34th. We will join you on April 19th, #34 here as well