Yesterday was our 22nd anniversary. I have known B for much longer, almost thirty years. The time has flown by. If I close my eyes, it seems like yesterday when we met, got married, and had kids. It was also my younger brother’s birthday. For a short time, we will be consecutive 51-50-49. I am the oldest, the smartest, the best looking, and the most humble, in case you didn’t know. Yesterday was also homecoming for W and it was a day full of activity finishing with a dance. Oh, the memories it brings back. It’s fall in the Midwest, again. It happens every year. The days get shorter and cooler, and the trees begin to turn and then leaves begin to fall. It happens, always.
I missed posting last week, B and O were camping last week with the Girl Scouts and W and I were all by ourselves. Like the previous weekends, it was booked – football on Friday, and again Saturday morning, errands on Saturday afternoon, and driver’s ed on Sunday. Last Saturday, I had my first drive with my new driver. He has his permit, but it was my first ride along. He’d ridden with B a couple of days before, but it was my first ride. It brought back memories of learning to drive and then, all of the dumb stuff I did after I got my license. His drive was almost flawless, and he drove well. He drove two more times with me in the passenger seat Sunday before schoolwork intervened and took over. B and O got home mid-afternoon and the Sunday afternoon routine kicked in – getting ready for the week to come.
However, it wasn’t W and his schedule or B and O being out of town that loomed over the weekend. It was family. I was worried about my step-mom, J. I had visited in June and helped her get up and running on the web with an iPad. But, I hadn’t heard from her electronically in a while, and I had been wondering. Of course, we’d talk often, but I’m not there in town. In fact, none of us, family that is, is there. Since my father passed away in July 2009, she’s been alone, except for some dear friends in the community. I got a call last Thursday evening, from a very dear friend of hers to let me know J wasn’t feeling well. I worried and looked into the possibilities of travelling to Mississippi last weekend. I decided I wasn’t needed immediately, but I do need to travel south to check up, check on her, and visit, so I booked a trip down south next weekend. I have spoken to her several times since and she sounds good, but I am still concerned. It’ll loom all week long.
Yesterday, I remembered our wedding day twenty-two years ago. I remembered it was a typical fall day in southwestern Ohio. The leaves had turned and it was cool. It was overcast and even rained a little right before the ceremony. My mom, J, and my sister-in-law got lost and were late for the ceremony. I paced outside with my brother and wondered where they were. It was long before cell phones and they showed up late, very late. All I could think of was to make a funny remark, “You’re off the Christmas card list.” and smile as they hustled into the church. My mom and J remember that moment well and my mom never misses a chance remind me that if they hadn’t been late, we would have missed the moment when the sun began to shine, streaming in to illuminate B and I as we took our vows. I was only joking and I do send a Christmas card every year. That was twenty-two years ago yesterday. It seems like just the other day.
It’s now fully mid-morning the sun is up and streaming in the front window. Ivy is lying in the sunshine on the carpet basking in the sun. B nudged me at four AM this morning and said, “I think the dog is outside.” Sure enough, I went downstairs and opened the back door and there she was – wet, soaked and cold, but fortunately, not perfumed by a skunk, again, though the residual scent of her September encounter with ‘Pepe Lapew’ was still there. She was happy to see me and I dried her off and made a bed for her of old towels before climbing back upstairs and going back to sleep.
The leaves are falling and storm blew through yesterday afternoon, just in time for homecoming pictures. I was mowing the front yard when the rain began and got soaked. I need to clean the leaves again, but that is a full-time job until the trees are bare in November. I have a stack of papers to read and grade, like I do every weekend until next June. I have at least two weeks of class to review, plan, and prepares lessons. I have yard work, laundry to fold, and so, so much more. It’s gonna be a great day, but it starts now and it when it ends, it’ll seem like yesterday. So, I had better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Today is gonna be a great day. Making the Days Count one day at a time.
What happened ‘just like yesterday’ for you?
Happy Anniversary Clay! Just saw this post. Me and my gal just celebrated our 15th this past Saturday.
congrats – every year has a memory….. and every year is different, just like every day. keep at it!
Just like yesterday? Taking my kids to story time at the library. 🙂
Happy 22!
story time at the library is a great memory… sometimes our kids don’t realize how lucky they are to have a library or parents like you to take them!
Beautiful Wedding picture, Clayton. I have been following, as I do enjoy reading your blog. Just not much to say lately. Life is good and carries on 🙂
Thanks Tonette! Been thinking about my time in Frisco lately, glad to hear you are well and moving forward. Take care
Clay, how interesting. Julie was over after church and mentioned your anniversary – the wedding picture is fabulous. Carol
Carol, I saw this comment when you posted it and meant to reply right away, but time got AWAY. It was good to see you last weekend. I am glad we were able tot get together. It’s been busy since I returned (somethings never change!).
Well, first of all congratulations on the anniversary. Hope you celebrated in style. And as for the ‘just like yesterday’ – surely it has to be the births of my children. Next time my son has a birthday, it’ll be 37 years… and then there are the other births of 34 and 24 years ago: I can remember every moment of the events themselves and those special days after. I guess most parents can.
Thank you.. we went to dinner Saturday evening and spent the weekend focused on our kids – 15 and 10. i, too, remember the births of my children – just like they were the other day. I can close my eyes and I am there.. the rest of the time from then until now seems like a blur unless I stop and think and try to remember. My daughter will be 11 next week, it doesn’t seem possible, and then it does. Take care and enjoy fall!