35 Springs

Not only is this the first day of spring, it is also my and Linda's anniversary. We have been formally wedded for 29 springs, but have been together for 35.

We would be old fogeys together, but she is younger than I am. On our first spring I was 25 and she was 20, so she is now approaching fogeyism, but not quite there. 

As she likes to remind me.

We formalized our union on a brisk first day of spring witnessed by a small group of family and friends. Our ceremony was held in the great outdoors at the Buffalo Paddock of Waterton National Park in southwest Alberta.

The air was crisp, and the ground we stood on was speckled with purple crocuses, the first prairie flowers of spring.

There was still snow at elevation along the front range of the Rocky Mountains that tower above the site.

On that spring day we became a team for life. State sanctioning did not matter to us, but the vow to care for each other in sickness and health did.

As things turned out sickness did enter into the equation when Linda was diagnosed years later with MS.

Now, as her full time caregiver, I can't imagine a better job in the world than helping her live her best life with the challenges of a disease no one knows the cause of, or the cure.

Luckily, from that very first spring together we were partners extraordinaire, like we were made for each other. We were ready for anything, and in spite of it all, we are doing just fine and enjoying all that life, and spring have to offer.

We hope you are well, too, and that those of you in the North are happily welcoming the crocus, daffodils, and snowdrops as the sun returns. May you experience the abundance of the mighty bison this year.

To our Southern friends, we hope your summer was great, you are ready for fall and winter, and you are enjoying an abundant harvest.

Today this fogey and his near-fogey partner are celebrating our first 35 springs together, as we look forward to the next 35. 

Or 25. 

Or 15. 

Or whatever we have in store for us as we carry on through this crazy thing called life.