A Walk Down Memory Lane

Today I traveled to a nearby town to do a little Christmas shopping.  The route took me by the high school, where the district office used to be, where Gerry and I attended school board meetings (before we were married).  Something about seeing the school brought back memories of how things were in my life back then, and in particular,  the school superintendent's thoughts about our marriage.  He was clearly a skeptic.   I am sure there were plenty of skeptical people. (We were public figures by virtue of being on the School Board).

Back then,  I was a single parent with three small children.  I was also economically at just about poverty level, though I did not think of myself as poor.  In the eyes of others, marrying Gerry certainly appeared to be a "step up"  (out of my lower middle class to his upper middle class perhaps).   He was a college professor.  I was a struggling single parent, though I did have a good job and beautiful children, and the respect of my colleagues.   Still, I am sure that some perceived me to be a 'gold digger'.

The reality is that both of us have contributed mightily and equally to create a very rich life.  Are lives are immensely enriched by our families--children and grandchildren. We have friends and acquaintances from the university where Gerry worked for almost forty years.  We have special friends from the churches where I have served. We now have new friends and activities in a new community where we have chosen to live.  There are also ski buddies and tennis partners.

 It is certainly true that marrying Gerry back then provided some measure of stability, a better house to live in,   financial security, and no longer living on the edge of economic disaster or worse.  But when I look back at our thirty years or so together, our lives have not at all been defined by that initial reality, and I have not been one who has 'ridden on his economic coattails'.  Quite to the contrary.

The first fifteen years we lived in the house that Gerry provided.  The next fifteen years, we lived in the houses that my ministry provided.  Now, we live in the house that both our careers have made possible.  Now we have new activities and friends in the community where we have chosen to retire.

Back then, when we first met at those board of education meetings long ago,  neither of us could have imagined the blessed and amazing life we have now.

And at the time, it was really and truly no more complicated than this:  We feel in love!

And that has endured!