Happy Birthday Eve

Tomorrow, my lovely spouse will celebrate a birthday I won't say which one for fear of having to eat Kibbles and Bits for the next month of so. I can say without hesitation that she does not look her age.

I've seen 30 year-olds that look and act much older.

We started dating when she was 16. We didn't marry until after she went off to college and I returned from military service, but I think we both somehow knew we'd wind up together.

I think a mistake that young lovers make today is that they marry based on attraction alone. Attraction/passion plays a part, but if you don't have common interests, the road is often rocky.

Young people often get married with full knowledge of their partner's behaviors, thinking they will change after the exchange rings. That rarely happens. 

If a guy loves hunting and fishing before marriage, it is doubtful he'll want to forego hunting and fishing to pick out window treatments, and new comforters for the bedroom. 

If a woman likes a Friday night out with the girls every now and then, no amount of sulking and whining will change that.

So, the secret to a long successful marriage, is to find someone who likes some of the same things you like. Someone who likes to hit flea markets with you on weekends, or someone who likes to camp out on soggy creek banks and clean trout for dinner.

I'm not sure if I knew this when I first met Jilda or not. Maybe we both got lucky and found partners that fit like an expensive leather glove. But we both love writing songs and playing music. We love taking pictures, and art. We love entertaining friends, reading, writing, and cussing politicians.

At any rate, it's been a great 41 (since we met) years. 

Happy Birthday Jilda.