THOUGHTFUL RAMBLING No. 10
"16 And Counting"
Today is my 16th anniversary. 16 years married to the same incredible, beautiful, wonderful woman. On December 28, 1991, she stood up in front of God and everybody and promised to love me for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. She got all that and then some.
Tuggle men, as a rule, have made a tradition out of marrying above themselves. My father did it. My brother did it. And God knows, I did. As my dad told me the day I brought Ginger home to meet him for the first time, "Boy, you outkicked your coverage!" He had no idea.
This year would have been my parents 45th anniversary. I'm sad I didn't get to go to that party. They were married for 37 years before my Dad passed away and I know that was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was a matrimonial attorney for 35 years and saw spouses at their absolute worst. "Marriage is tough," he told me. "It's something you have to work at every day." He also reminded me there is nothing more worth working on than that.
When Ginger and I got married, people gave us all kinds of advice. One friend of ours said, "Never go to sleep angry!" And for the most part, I can say we haven't. Another said, "Remember it ain't all about sex and going out to dinner!" I've passed that one on more than a few times. People told us all kinds of things. But in the end, we've come to believe that if you love the other person more than you love yourself, everything will be fine.
The truth is, I'm one of the lucky ones. My wife loves me in spite of myself. She gives me reason when I desperately need it. She's the rational left brain to balance my creative right. And for 16 years she's been the support that's sustained me and the anchor that's kept me grounded. Ginger is my compass. And whatever I am, I'm that because of her.
She's a loving mother, a caring wife, a thoughtful sister and a dependable friend. She loves toasted almonds on her ice cream, a great glass of wine, laughing until it hurts and curling up with a warm, blanket and the puppy in her lap. Most of all, she loves me. And every night before she goes to sleep, she tells me that. She gives me a kiss, rolls over and rubs my ankle with the bottom of her foot as if to tell me, "I'll be right here."
In 16 years of marriage, that's one thing I've never questioned.
"16 And Counting"
Today is my 16th anniversary. 16 years married to the same incredible, beautiful, wonderful woman. On December 28, 1991, she stood up in front of God and everybody and promised to love me for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. She got all that and then some.
Tuggle men, as a rule, have made a tradition out of marrying above themselves. My father did it. My brother did it. And God knows, I did. As my dad told me the day I brought Ginger home to meet him for the first time, "Boy, you outkicked your coverage!" He had no idea.
This year would have been my parents 45th anniversary. I'm sad I didn't get to go to that party. They were married for 37 years before my Dad passed away and I know that was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was a matrimonial attorney for 35 years and saw spouses at their absolute worst. "Marriage is tough," he told me. "It's something you have to work at every day." He also reminded me there is nothing more worth working on than that.
When Ginger and I got married, people gave us all kinds of advice. One friend of ours said, "Never go to sleep angry!" And for the most part, I can say we haven't. Another said, "Remember it ain't all about sex and going out to dinner!" I've passed that one on more than a few times. People told us all kinds of things. But in the end, we've come to believe that if you love the other person more than you love yourself, everything will be fine.
The truth is, I'm one of the lucky ones. My wife loves me in spite of myself. She gives me reason when I desperately need it. She's the rational left brain to balance my creative right. And for 16 years she's been the support that's sustained me and the anchor that's kept me grounded. Ginger is my compass. And whatever I am, I'm that because of her.
She's a loving mother, a caring wife, a thoughtful sister and a dependable friend. She loves toasted almonds on her ice cream, a great glass of wine, laughing until it hurts and curling up with a warm, blanket and the puppy in her lap. Most of all, she loves me. And every night before she goes to sleep, she tells me that. She gives me a kiss, rolls over and rubs my ankle with the bottom of her foot as if to tell me, "I'll be right here."
In 16 years of marriage, that's one thing I've never questioned.
posted by Michael Tuggle at 9:57 AM
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