Thirty-six Years Together

Thirty six years ago I left work at the end of my shift at the hospital emergency room and got into the car with the love of my life. We drove to the court house to get our marriage licence. I was dressed all in white (this was back when nurses actually wore uniforms ...... cap included), literally head to toe. He wore a pair of jeans and a non-descript shirt along with the jacket that he wore when he worked as an EMT. We were quite the pair, just needed the ever present stethoscope dangling from our necks.

We had a small ceremony planned for later that week and we were simply taking care of one more detail. We presented all that was necessary and the clerk asked if we wanted to get married then or just get the licence. He looked at me and said, "Do you want to get married?" I said, "Yes, let's get married." And we did. Just like that. I don't even remember who our witnesses were. After our "ceremony" we picked my two children up from daycare and went home. No muss, no fuss. We did have a small reception on the day we had planned to get married. No honeymoon, no gifts or any of the stuff that usually comes with a wedding.

I am quite certain that most every one thought it would end as quickly as it began, but here we are thirty-six years later. Wonder if anyone is still waiting?


Today we celebrate thirty-six years together. We are planning a trip to WalMart to pick up my prescription and then we will eat out. I say planning, because a pipe burst and he who plumbs is at the local hardware store getting parts. We might not go anywhere. We might just stay home and eat whatever I can put together and enjoy the warm fire and our freshly bathed trio of dogs. Doesn't matter so much where we are as long as we are together.