My husband and I went out for dinner this week. We wore masks until seated and were delighted to find that our chosen restaurant, Cuba Cuba, had set up tables on its front lawn. We got there early enough to have lots of personal space in the great outdoors.
You’d think I’d go with the restaurant’s signature mojito, being it’s a Cuban drink and we were in a Cuban restaurant. But I can make mojitos at home (mint! I have mint!). Instead, we allowed some geographical mixing-it-up and toasted each other with Brazilian caipirinhas. (Sure, I could make those at home, too, but cachaça is harder to find than rum.)
When I was younger, I looked at older couples and wondered how could anyone be in in love with an old person? I mean, wrinkles and sags and bifocals and gray hairs and less hair where you want it and more where you don’t. All that general decrepitude? Not appealing, my 30-something self declared.
But these days, I look at my husband with my older eyes, facing him with my ever-advancing imperfections, and I think he is the most attractive man in the world. And also the most interesting.
During the pandemic he’s been serenading me with flamenco guitar, which he first picked up early in our marriage when we spent a summer studying in Spain. He’s been sketching (our dog Dexter is his favorite subject), learning about and practicing stoicism, fixing things around the house, smoking yummy foods for dinner, and setting up a place to chillax in our back yard.
Now I understand how easy it is to love an old person. It helps to BE an old person. And it helps to have an intertwined history. You have all this narrative between you, a long and winding road behind you with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Always you have been able to depend on each other. You are thankful for the opportunity to continue walking the road ahead.
And you still love gazing into that face. You still thank your lucky stars.
It’s a beautiful thing.
We made it to 25!
Along these lines
This post is part of #Microblog Mondays. What’s that? A post that is not too long. Head over to Stirrup Queens to join the fun.
Lori Holden, mom of a young adult daughter and a young adult son, writes from Denver. She was honored as an Angel in Adoption® by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Her first book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole, makes a thoughtful anytime gift for the adoptive families in your life. Her second book, Standing Room Only: How to Be THAT Yoga Teacher is now available in paperback, and her third book, Adoption Unfiltered, is now available through your favorite bookseller!
Find Lori’s books on her Amazon Author page and catch episodes of Adoption: The Long View wherever you get your podcasts.
22 Responses
Ahhhh I love this! We will hit 28 years next weekend and I so agree with you – there is comfort in this love that is woven in our mutual experiences that include the highest of highs and the lowest of lows! Celebrating with you both- and digging the swim trunks, Roger!
Congrats to you two, too!
(Too bad Roger isn’t wearing a tutu, lol.)
This is a lovely tribute to your husband and your marriage. (I want to meet you both now!)
Congratulations on your 25th anniversary! It is definitely worth celebrating. It’s so much richer than the young love of the wedding day or those earlier anniversaries, isn’t it?
Cheers!
OMG, wouldn’t that be amazing?
We will come visit you some day. When the world returns to some sort of normalcy. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.
Congratulations kids! The most interesting people alive!
Thank you, Tim! We do have an interesting story about your family, too 😉
Very sweet and so true.
🙂
Congratulations!
Thanks, Bev!
Happy Anniversary! You guys are a delight!
I have pool envy – we were trying to buy one of those this summer but they were sold out everywhere. 🙁
Wanna come over?
Bring a mask.
I love this
🙂
I love this post, Lori. It may be because you are such a great writer. It may be because I adore both you and Roger. And it may also be that it reflects my own perspectives — with my husband of 16 years — on being an old(er) person, loving an old(er) person, the narrative between, a long and winding road behind us, the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, depending on each other and SO grateful for the opportunity to continue to walk together. We never knew what was in store for us, and still don’t, but we stay together, leaning on and loving each other through the unknown. Happy Happy Anniversary! <3
Thank you, Mrs Fisher <3.
Congratulations to my Soft Shave friend!!!!!! You are not obligated to explain my term of endearment to anyone!!!!! Love you and miss you!!!!
Laughing!! Shhh…….
Congratulations! And what a sweet post, a celebration of your love. I think it’s wonderful to grow older with someone, and to find each other’s silver and crinkles hot after all. 😉 Love these photos!
Silver crinkles — I’ma borrow that!
Sweetest post. I love this: “Now I understand how easy it is to love an old person. It helps to BE an old person. And it helps to have an intertwined history. You have all this narrative between you, a long and winding road behind you with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”
Happy anniversary!
Belated happy anniversary congratulations!! I always think of that poem: “Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.” 🙂 Cheers to 25 years!