I get so MAD!

July 9th, 2005 at 07:00am Posted by Bill

Today is our 17th wedding anniversary. Kathy and I have now been married longer than either of us had been alive when we first met. (Huh? Did that sentence even make sense? Here’s a translation: We were each 16 when we met, and we’ve now been married 17 years. Better?)

It’s kind of amazing, really. In so many ways, we have grown together, and are more alike now than when we met. I imagine this is true of any couple that has been together this long, especially a couple who grew together from such a young age.

But what is really interesting, to me at least, is how much we have grown apart in so many ways. And I don’t mean that in a negative way, like we don’t enjoy each other’s company, or anything like that. Quite the contrary. However, we have each developed our own hobbies, different tastes in some things, etc.

For example, I live and breath everything having to do with computers, but to her they are pretty much just a tool, like a coffee maker or dish washer.

When we first met, in 1985, we were both pretty much on the same page as far as music was concerned. Neither of us really liked the new wave stuff that was popular, like Flock of Seagulls or Duran Duran. We were both into more mainstream rock and roll. Now, our musical tastes have greatly diverged: She likes country, and I like much harder rock.

Differences like this haven’t acted as a wedge driven between us; on the contrary, they have allowed us to have our own separate interests, which I now understand is very important for any couple. It allows Kathy to have a wonderful night out with her best friend Lori attending the Kenny Chesney concert, without worrying about whether she should feel bad that I wasn’t there with her instead, ’cause she knows I wouldn’t enjoy the concert much anyway.

It also allows us to playfully rip on each other. She’ll theatrically swoon over Tom Cruise (she still hasn’t gotten over that underwear scene from Risky Business), and I’ll point out that he’s what, like 70 years old now? I’ll try to explain that country isn’t really “music”, and she’ll point out that she can’t understand the lyrics that David Draiman is shouting in the latest song from Disturbed.

The bottom line is, I love her more now than I ever have, and I don’t see how that love won’t keep growing forever.

Happy anniversary, sweetheart.

Entry Filed under: Family, Bill