30 Years – How did that happen?…

When we’re young we find the future something that only ‘olds’ need to know about. Then we suddenly realise just a year or so later that the future is something that we need to pay attention to and even to ‘own’ if we want our lives to progress as we would like – not that we even have any real understanding of where life will take us. Sure – many will have plans for their future but very few will become that ‘Film Star’ or whatever their dreams entailed. And, just as our career dreams may not progress beyond what might have been, finding that significant other to form a life together and grow a family, well that is often a very hard road.

I look back to my twenties – lots of my workmates were getting married. It’s the mid-1970’s – everyone is still living the ‘summer of love’ and relationships are quickly formed. It wasn’t for me – I’m not a very communicative person… I’d kill any chat-up line if I tried it! Relationships were fleeting and not in any way fulfilling.

It felt like life was passing by for me in the 1980’s although I was enjoying my activities – trains, flying, etc… I certainly wasn’t finding a long-term love interest. Women in the period were very judgemental in a strange way – ‘You’d better like Disco or we’re not interested’ was how it came across to me. I never seemed to bump into any ‘Rock Chicks’ though they clearly existed. Again – I’m sure that if I’d had a more assured attitude things might have been different?

Late 1980’s and I was introduced to a very beautiful young lady by a couple of friends from the flying club and things grew from there. I look back now and wonder what life might have been like without those friends? I also think back to what I might have envisaged in my teenage years when thinking about a wife and family. I know that I never dreamed of an African wife!

So here we are – 30 years down the road and happily sharing our lives. We argue, we hug and cuddle, we share our cooking and we harass our Son who is currently in a potentially long-term relationship of his own.

On the eve of our anniversary I took us to Kew Gardens – We originally went there on our 2nd date. Back then it was January and very cold. I’m surprised I didn’t frighten her away! I doubled down by taking her to St Albans when the lake was frozen and still she stayed! We were supposed to be going back today but the weather wasn’t good (being soaked is very different to being very cold). But last night Epi took us to see Six, the Musical, at the Vaudeville on The Strand. That was a wonderful evening to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary…