a kiss is still a kiss.
On February 14th, 1970, a gangly 23-year-old and a green-eyed 19-year-old were married in a church in Burnaby. The bridesmaids wore pink. The roses were red. He only weighed 123 pounds.
Their reception was at Frank Baker’s restaurant in West Van. The salad was, by all accounts, excellent.
Their honeymoon was a weekend in Seattle. They only ate at Denny’s, because he was nervous to eat anywhere else. It’s hard to say if this is why he only weighed 123 pounds.
Shortly after they were married, they set off for Texas, where he would attend seminary, and she would eventually give birth to a pretty baby who didn’t like having food on his face.
They headed to their first church in Saskatchewan a couple of years later, and completed their family with a baby girl in 1974. She didn’t so much mind the food on her face. Or yelling random things from her crib when she got bored.
Countless moves, churches, jobs and challenges have come up since, and they’ve faced each one together.
He has been a minister and a musician for more than 35 years, but he has also been everything from an English professor to a cop to a hockey referee.
She is a designer, artist, and seamstress now, but she has also been everything from an art teacher to a caterer to the person who painted the sides of the buses.
They are fairly different people, with different personalities and different talents and different ways of dealing and different favourite flavours of ice cream.
They agree on their commitment, the way they adore their kids, their faith, their politics, the value of British comedy, the vacation potential of the Oregon Coast, and the intrinsic magic of Chinese takeout. And a thousand other things, of course.
They disagree about how one should handle traffic stress, the way email should be punctuated, and whether or not shirts really need to go to the drycleaners. And a thousand other things, of course.
But they are, above all else, still very much in love.
They are my mom and dad.
And as of tomorrow — or today, depending on your time zone — they will have been married 37 years.
37 years.
That’s a rare and amazing thing in this world, where people hurt one other and leave one other and devalue one another… just because they can.
My parents are what it looks like to live out your vows every single day.
So.
To you two:
I hope someone will one day love me the way you love one another. I’m proud of you in more ways than I can express, even when you drive me absolutely bonkers.
You are a joy, a hope and a blessing… not to mention two of the funniest people I know.
May you have another 37 years of nudging each other awake in front of the TV.
I love you.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Awww. Anyone who is Meg’s parents AND anyone who knows the value of British comedy is A-OK in my books! Congratulations, Meg’s parents!
And Happy Valentine’s Day, Meg!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Congratulations as well from the honeymoon capital. Was it the Denny’s on the corner of Denney and SR99, near the Seattle Center?
February 14th, 2007 at 7:53 am
That was absolutely beautiful. Totally struck a chord, too, in light of a conversation my husband and I had last night about how our relationship is all the more amazing because each of us has the ability to walk away at any time. (I guess you’d have to know more about us and our situation to understand what I mean, but my point is: THANKS FOR THIS!)
February 14th, 2007 at 8:31 am
What a beautiful tribute! Having been married only 8+ years, I hope that someone can say such positive things about us in 29 years!! Although, I kind of doubt it - we agree about 10 things and disagree about a million or 2 :)
February 14th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Thank you sweetheart!…Phil-Yes! the very one! We stayed at the Tropicana Motor Inn in the penthouse (round bed)–we got the penthouse because the other suite was occupied by Jose Greco’s dance troupe and they needed the rest and quiet neighbours! We agreed and got the really low rate –and almost got kicked out because 5 minutes later our whole wedding party showed up in the lobby in a loud party mood! They were satisfied with a look at the suite and the round bed–no one had EVER seen EITHER before! We were such a bunch of innocents!! They all went off the a fancy restaurant downtown - and we went to Denny’s! Thank you all for the best wishes.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:04 am
happy anniversary, meg’s parents!
and happy valentines day everyone. :)
February 14th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Happy Valentine’s Day to the finest daughter two people ever produced and I can’t believe my lovely wife who has all my love and affection is still so bitter about Denny’s after 37 years! Today I will make up for it by taking her to Jack-in-the-Box!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Congratulations to your parents. We are a dying breed. We are looking at 42 years this year. And they said it would never last!
February 14th, 2007 at 10:24 am
That’s a lovely tribute to your parents — a very Happy Anniversary to them!
February 14th, 2007 at 11:51 am
aw, crap meg…now i’m all a-blubber. that was the sweetest tribute to an amazing couple. i love love. happy anniversary, fowlers.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I couldn’t hold back the tears as I read this to my fiance. Thank you. I hope that in 37 years I will still be nudging him awake in front of the TV. And he will still only eat Vanilla Ice Cream.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
When you have this kind of love to look to as an example, you’ve already been given a Valentine.
Once again, beautiful, Meg.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Aw, man….that was the BEST Valentines Day message I ever read, Meg.
My hubby and I will be celebrating our 32nd anniversary in April. And you captured “us” to a “tee.” Even down to the the green-eyed 19 year old girl and (well, the not-so-gangly) 23 year old guy.
It is all worth it, folks - all the ups and downs. Because the ups always outweigh the downs.
A big Happy Anniversary Meg’s mom & dad. :)
February 14th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
A beautiful couple = A beautiful daughter.
Happy Anniversary “Mr. & Mrs. Fowler”.
And Meg…Happy Valentines Day.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Dear Isore and mom,
You know, If you miss Texas, you can always eat at Dairy Queen. Happy 37. May you always be that young.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:09 am
first Calvin Trillin’s “About Alice”, now THIS!
on the same day