30 Years of marriage !

Virginia and I are about to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We have decided to mark the occasion with a vacation to a part of the world unfamiliar to us: Tokyo, Bangkok, Koh Samui and Hong Kong. We are still fitting in our favorite type of break, beach time, but in a part of the world we have not traveled in the past.

Wikipedia definition: Marriage is a governmentally, socially, or religiously recognized interpersonal relationship, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract. The reasons people marry vary widely, but usually include one or more of the following: the public declaration of love, the formation of a family unit, legitimizing sexual relations and procreation, social and economic stability, and the education and nurturing of children.

Certainly in our case we were wanting our relationship to be recognized ‘socially’, and we definitely wanted Isabel to be born into a ‘family unit’. The song goes ‘love child never meant to be’ but in our case it was a ‘love child always meant to be’. Can’t even imagine a life that did not include our children and certainly the first 30 years of our marriage had a focus that was clear: family.

30 years later having experienced a wonderful loving relationship and raised three young ladies we are tremendously proud of, we find ourselves in a new world of grown children and grandchild. A different sort of experience lies in front of us with more time to ourselves and not many years to retirement from the work a day world. I may find it difficult to leave my work as it is tremendously satisfying and I really do appreciate working with so many highly motivated, entrepreneurial people.

But the next number of years should be new adventure for both of us as we find new ways to challenge ourselves.