Sunday, August 28, 2011

Special Day


Today is a special day here. It is our 35th anniversary. As I reflect upon that fact I can't help but think of all that means and all that we have been through as a couple. We've certainly been through a lot of things in that time and it hasn't always been easy. I've even had times I found myself wondering "why" we were still hanging in there. Nothing speaks louder to that than an incident that happened at the hospital just before I came home.

They were busy making preparations for me to be discharged from the hospital. Because of my condition included in those plans were some pretty ugly care issues that needed to be addressed for me to be discharged (my newly acquired ostomy AND two pretty ugly open wounds). There were an assortment of difficult issues affecting my ability to do these things myself but there had to be a responsible adult willing to take on that care if I was to go home.

I didn't even think twice about volunteering Dave for the ugly duty. I think the professionals thought I was nuts but my husband had no qualms and willingly stepped forward to take on the responsibilities.

I remember on that last days as the wound nurse and her student scurried around my bed helping, which was more like scrutinizing, Dave in these new duties, the student said to him, "This sure isn't anything you signed on for." I know she didn't mean anything by it. It was just a reflection of the difficulty of the tasks being asked of him. I had signed Dave up for some pretty tough duty.

Without hesitation Dave responded to her comment, "Sure I did. In sickness and in health, in good times and in bad" You bet I did." He went back to cleaning out the gaping hole in my abdomen as competently as if he was himself a professional.

No one really said anything after his response. Tears rolled silently down my cheeks and my chest swelled with pride for this gentle man I married all those years ago.

It doesn't really matter what comes next. With a commitment like that I'm sure we'll figure out how to get through it. In the meantime we're celebrating the fact we still have each other and hoping for another 35 down the road.

36 comments:

  1. Happy anniversary! May you have many, many more!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on the milestone - it sounds like you've got some things to celebrate even in the midst of troubles.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your 35th wedding anniversary. That is so awesome for such a wonderful couple!

    Two of my friends just celebrated their 60th anniversary this week. I'm expecting that will be you and Dave in 25 years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats MiKael. Dave sounds like a fantastic guy. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awww, now I'm crying too. What a great guy. I'm glad you know you are fortunate to have him. Happy Anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I,m so happy to see some news from you. Your story about Dave brought tears to my eyes too. You got a good one. Happy 35th anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What an awesome man you have.......Happy Anniversary!!!! We have our 34th on Wednesday.....I have a good one too. All the very best MiKael!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awww, Happy Anniversary to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You both know to appreciate that which is precious.

    ReplyDelete
  10. He sounds like an amazing man! Such a wonderful story. Congratulations on your 35th! I hope one day to be so lucky.

    Sending my best thoughts and contued healing your way!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy anniversary. Your Dave sounds like a fine man.God bless you both, and I hope you continue on the road to wellness.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You never really know they are there for you until you fall.

    I'm sorry for the fall, but glad for the good soul who is there to catch you...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Aniversary to you both . A pair of wonderful people. Who I am proud to call friends of mine. That hubby of yours is a class act ,as are you

    ReplyDelete
  14. CONGRATS! And what an amazing post this is! May God bless you both for many more years!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations on your 35th anniversary. You make a wonderful couple together. Dave is one of the good ones. Glad to hear from you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Anniversary. You got a good one.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congrats on the milestone - 35 years is amazing.

    Hats off to Dave for stepping up to help out with your medical needs.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awww, I'm so happy for you and Dave. Life is more bearable when we are supported and cared for by the one we love.

    Happy 35th Anniversary!
    ~Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy Anniversary! What a good man your Dave is! Just do it not thinking twice about it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hug him once for me would ya MiKael? What a wonderful man you have there. That is wonderful.

    I wish you two many happy years to come....

    ReplyDelete
  21. It sounds like you have a pretty neat guy there! Congratulations and many, many more. Hope you are getting lots of horse hugs, too.
    Juanita

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats to both of you, may we all find such happyness.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Anniversay! I hope you two have many many more. It is good to hear from you. Are you taking care of yourself and getting lots of rest? I pray that your recovery will be progress smoothly. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That's about the sweetest thing I've ever read. Hugs to you both.

    ReplyDelete
  25. A wonderful place to be at in life with your husband and he sounds a gem. Congratulations

    ReplyDelete
  26. Kudos to Dave for having the right answer ;o) It's amazing how many people don't really contemplate (or fully comprehend) their own wedding vows. Between sickness and worse, that road you travel together can get pretty darn rocky. *grin*
    Congratulations and happy anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy anniversary and congrats on picking a keeper. He's even nice enough to keep your blogger buddies informed. It hardly gets better than that. God bless you both and I hope you're feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy Anniversary!! Just reading this bought tears to my eyes, he is a wonderful Husband. I think the world would be a better place for all (especially our children) if more couples believed in the vows they say to each other when they are married!

    Again Congratulations on 35 years of marriage, may you have another 35 years together!

    Karren from Australia

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy Anniversary! You sure picked a good one; too many men would have turned their backs on that and walked away. He is a very special person and you are, too. Congratulations to both of you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Happy anniversary!! Best wishes for many more.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Happy Anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Anniversary! What a sweet and touching thing for Dave to say.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congrats on your 35th! That's quite a milestone. Your story brought a tug to my heart and a tear to my eye! What a loving, wonderful man you married!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Congrats on 35 years!

    Your hubby sounds like a special man :)

    I've no probs helping mine with his ostomy issues, it's just something you do.. A lot of trial and error for the first year or so it seemed. Listen to your skin (since you can't see it).

    ReplyDelete
  35. darn Dave, in your quiet strong way you really are somebody special. and Mikael, you must be quite a somebody special to have such a person devoted to you, and your health...

    just a darn good marriage all around- thank you two for paving the way :)

    congrats!

    ReplyDelete