My wife and I are celebrating our 35th engagement anniversary tonight. Quietly and intimately, with a candle-lit dinner and a bottle of our favorite wine, at the most exclusive eatery in town: our house.
You may have caught the reference to Márquez’s novel Love in the Time of Cholera. Why? Well, for one thing: it was published in 1985, the year we became engaged (and got married). For another, it’s a story of love struggling against external and internal challenges. It’s about imperfect people learning to love better.
That’s us. Or should I say Us? Because a new person, Us, came into being the day we got engaged. We’ve fought to keep Us alive and in-love against all kinds of external and internal challenges since then. The latest being the pandemic that has produced isolation, bare store shelves, dwindling funds and, yes, closed restaurants.
So we’ll be dining in tonight. And chances are it will be one of our more memorable outings (innings?). Because facing challenges together, and coming out of them together, has always made Us stronger.
Now I understand why my parents reminisced more about the hard days of their marriage than the easy ones. Those were the days their love grew stronger.
It’s not just romantic love that can grow in times like this. We all belong to a huge Us that is struggling to love, rather than die and be replaced by a bunch of detached Me’s. Will we learn how to love each other better during this time? Will we come out stronger?
It’s up to Us.
Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal and commented:
Happy Anniversary, Mitch!
No virus can stop a true love.. No enemy can kill it.. May your love lasts forever… Happy anniversary and stay safe sir!
Thanks, Piyush. You too!
Happy 35th!
Thank you, Diane!
Happy Anniversary. Loved this…
Thank you, Jeanne Marie.
Loved your emphasis on creating a “We” out of two “Mes”.
Lovely post Mitch. I shared it on my FB page. I hope it’s an inspiration to all who read it. Blessings to you and your wife!
Thank you, Julanne, and you, as well!
Happy anniversary sir 😇 may God bless you both a great life ahead 💝 great post 😊
Thanks, Neha. You too!
This is a lovely read. Thankyou. The line was echoing in my head since some days now: Love in the time of the Corona
Except, without the “virus” part it sounds a little like an ad for Corona beer. ;>) Thanks, Ermelinda!
Didn’t know about corona beer! There’s a St Corona apparently! Got to know today. Hope it’s not fake news! Best!
It’s a Mexican brand, and one of the world’s best-selling beers (very popular in the U.S.).
Happy Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Teemley. I’m wishing you many more. ❤❤
Thank you, dear Linda. (Been meaning to ask you, btw: do your friends call you Linda Lee, or just Linda?)
I’m just Linda to most people. Mom to my kids, and Mammy to my grandkids. 😀
Copy that. Thanks!
Happy anniversary you guys! Woo hoo! There’s a story floating around about a couple re-enacting a cruise in their living room. That’s the idea, that’s the spirit. 🙂
Yep! And thanks.
Happy 35th anniversary!❤️🌸
Thank you, Judy!
Beautifully said! Happy Anniversary!! <3
Thank you, Joy!
You are welcome!
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks, Tracy!
Happy anniversary, Mitch! Enjoy this special time of intimacy. I agree, it’s these times of hardship that make for our best times together.
Where I live, we call being locked in our house a “snow day!” They are wonderful days of rest and relaxation where we are forced to stop striving. 🙂
Yep. Thanks, Mel!
Happy Anniversary,Mitch and to your wife! If it were only possible, I could have ordered a bouquet from a florist ( cannot remember where)—the bouquet being decorated with ribbons, a few sprigs of flowers and get this, toilet paper rolls in place of roses– to commemorate your anniversary in these interesting times.Accdg.to the florist, they have been getting a lot of orders for the TP bouquet.
Hah! Perfect.
I found the article—-search for toilet paper bouquet— articles would show a picture of a TP bouquet–costs $75, same price as a bouquet of roses. The shop is called Blossom Events & Florist in Trumann, Arkansas. They did it as an online joke to lift everybody’s spirits in this COVID-19 era. They did not realize that folks really like it. Right now, they only cater to locals.
Happy anniversary!
I think it is interesting to speculate about how this “Time of Coronavirus” will alter our individual and collective psyches. Not sure I have any good guesses about that yet, but I do believe something on the inside of all of us will certainly change.
Me too, Russ. We’ll see. Thanks!
Happy Anniversary! <3
Thank you, Mark!
What an amazing tribute to love. We do apply in the dark what we learn in the light, don’t we? THANK YOU for this hope-filled reminder. And … Happy Anniversary
Well said, Heidi. And thank you.
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks, Paula!
Beautiful and poignant. Happy anniversary!
Thank you, Mark!
Happy Anniversary, Mitch – maybe a good day for poetry, like this poem by Lynn Ungar: http://www.lynnungar.com/poems/pandemic/
Thank you, Heather. Just read it. Lovely idea beautifully expressed.
Mitch, this is wonderful and sooo true! While we often enter in with fantasy expectations of our relationships, it is the more difficult things we face together that bonds, bind and strengthens
Exactly, Laura.
Happy anniversary!
Thanks, Joy!
Happy Anniversary to you and your lovely wife, Mitch. Your post was beautiful.
Thank you, Beckie.
Sounds like it will be a wonderful anniversary. Hard times have brought my husband and I more together over the years. (try spending 2 years in Viet Nam) We have grown stronger every time. He is still the love of my life after almost 58 years.
I love hearing stories like yours.
Very responsible! Have a wonderful evening.
Thanks, you too, Sheree.
Have a wonderful and blessed time this evening. Thirty five years is an awesome story in this day and age. I love hearing about it. Enjoy yourselves.
Not to get political but I have to say Bernie Sanders has the best campaign slogan – “Not me, Us”. Man, do we need to take it to heart…
We do indeed. Thanks, Gregory.
Congratulations, Mitch. In the future you’ll have very unique memories for this milestone anniversary!
Boy howdy will we! Thanks, Rob.
Happy anniversary! <3
Lovely. I hope yours was a perfect evening. 😊
Thanks, K.J.
Happy 35th anniversary! That is something special. I love planning date night at home.
Thank you. I do, too.
Well said, Mitch, on all counts.
Thank you, Liz.
You’re welcome, Mitch.
Happy Anniversary and nothing like a romantic candlelight dinner! Blessings.
Thank you, GH, you too.
Happy anniversary
Thanks, Robert.
What a beautiful entry, Mitch! We share that September 1985 anniversary month, tho’ you were able to pull a wedding together faster than us ;-). We got engaged Jan. 16. Happy Engagement Anniversary – and here’s to becoming more Us all the time!
Amen, and the same (belated) best wishes to you, Diane!
Good to see someone else’s take on COVID-19 that’s refreshing to hear. I blogged about it tonight myself, just trying to get people in a better mood! Thanks for the read!
Way to go, Tim. Keep it up!
Thanks. And thank you for the beautiful post!
Congratulations … And Love in Time of Cholera was one of the first books my husband and I read together 🙂
Aww. Thanks.
Hope your anniversary was wonderful, so glad you have each other! May God bless you with many more years and memories. 🌹🎉
Thank you, Lisa.
Congratulations and beautiful post!
Aw, thanks, Valerie!
Happy Anniversary Mitch, stay safe! God bless you both with lots of happiness and Joy 😇🙏❤️
Aw, thank you, Anjali. You too!
You’re welcome Mitch.
Happy 35th anniversary! Simplest post I have ever read….yet with deepest feelings.May god bless you both!
Thank you, you too!
“No matter what the question is, love is the answer…And they lived happily ever after…All the best. Jerry
You too, Jerry.
Happy anniversary!! Blessings to you and your wife!
Thank you, Tausha!
Beautiful post and Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Eugenia!
Most welcome!
Congratulations, Mitch! Thanks for your faithful testimony in an age of faithlessness. God bless!
You too, dear friend.
Truly beautiful…Congratulations to the Teemley team!
Thanks, Sarah!
Happy Anniversary! And I agree, this will make us stronger and more united (as a society, in our marriages, as a family, etc.) if we let it.
Amen. And thanks, Ann.
Beautiful!
There are lots of opportunities such as this, despite the growing chaos.
I’ve talked about a few of these opportunities.
We are all in this together!
Thanks for sharing!
We are indeed.
Congratulations!This might be the perfect anniversary gift! I have one or two left. Deluxe paper prints, no longer available through Disney. $50 signed by the artist includes shipping.Have a great celebration!Love to all,
Joe 4480 Powderhorn Place Drive Clermont, Florida 34711
mobile: 909.241.6088
SDG Soli Deo Gloria “To God Alone the Glory”
Thanks, Joe, and love to the Yakovetics, as well!
Happy Anniversary 💚👏🏻 it’s up to US~”we, not me”. Thank you for your inspiration.
Thank you, K.L.
Mitch,
Happy Anniversary! The best is yet to come! Thanks,
Gary
Thanks, Gary!
Happy Anniversary!! We love our “most exclusive eatery” as well. Blessings ♥
Thanks, Jacquie. You too.
Happy anniversary! This is what I’m working on during my quarantine: https://meganandthemysteriousboy.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/the-journey-begins/
Thanks. I’ll check it out.
Love the photo! Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Kathy!
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Meonn!
I love everything about this. Happy Anniversary!
Thank you!
Congratulations to both of you.👏🏼
Thanks, Tiaa.
Happy anniversary! Never forget to enjoy every moments in life despite all that is going around us. ❤️❤️
Thank you!
Happy Anniversary great read! <3
Thank you!
This is the most heartwarming message I have read in days. Happy wedding anniversary to you both. Stay positive, stay safe and spread the love! ❤
Thank you. You too!
Facing empty store shelves and what brought that about is beyond humane reasonings. Being a born NYC person by birth, it saddens me to read these accounts of panic, but it was generated by media. For the most extreme, and I being 81, I’ve kept an eye open for remedies. Here is a posting that addresses the most severe experience when it comes to life-support in a hospital;
To counter high volume of panic news, I’ve posted a most encouraging video explaining; “People don’t die of influenza, they die of chronic vitamin C deficiency – view and save lives now https://wp.me/p2VBZ8-35X
I’ve enjoyed the two blog posts of yours that I’ve read so far, and I look forward to following your blog. Thank you for finding my blog!
My pleasure. And good to meet you, Janet!
Happy anniversary! Cheers to many more happy years. God bless you.
Thank you, Imelda, and may God bless you.
Thanks for this lovely post and for finding my blog. wishing you many more anniversary dinners — some perhaps out!
Thank you, Maren, and yes, eating a few meals out again would be nice!
Agape – Principled love!
Nice post Mitch!
Thanks, LD!
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Congratulations Mitch… and may you have thirty-five more!!
Thank you!
Beautiful picture of true love. Congratulations!
Thank you, Emma.
This is beautiful 😍
Thank you.
Happy Anniversary! Such a beautiful post!
Thank you, Antonia.
Happy Anniversary! Such a beautiful post!
Thank you!
HIII! Please check my blog about love and emotions!
https://batanghilaga.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/all-we-need-is/
Precious. It is harder not to fight for love in the hard times.
Well written and quite informative . Keep writing and keep inspiring . I wrote something similar . Kindly through it https://natesh557112956.wordpress.com/2020/04/26/nature-bounces-back/
What a beautiful post and Happy Anniversary! I am supposed to get married this May 2020, but had to cancel because of the Coronavirus. Your story inspired me. After my fiance and I get through this, we will never forget it. I hope one day we will also be celebrating our 35 and reminisce the time today 🙂
Aw, I hope (and pray) so too, Jenorillo!
Aww so cute!!
Covid taught me I can be happy with very little. Here’s my latest post 🌿⬇️
https://mindbeautysimplicity.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/you-are-not-defined-by-your-possessions/
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