To Farmer Fisher
on our 8th Anniversary.
It’s been eight
years since you and I exchanged vows under the arbour you built for us at the
farm. It was blowing a gale that day, but the rain held off and we have
wonderful photos taken by a great family friend to remember that August 25,
2007.
Dad made it to
the wedding. He was told he might be in the hospital recovering from surgery
but he was determined he wasn’t going to watch me marry you on video. He wanted
to walk me down the aisle, and he did. He also danced with me, for half a song,
before he had to pass me over to you so he could go home and take a nap. The
excitement of the day, the heat and posing for photos tired him right out. I am
so very grateful that he was able to share the day with us. We did not know at
that point that his condition was terminal and that we would have him with us
just five more months.
You have a very
practical, simple view of life, and so you may not realize, my love, that you
have done miraculous things. You are the glue that holds this family together,
and it just comes naturally to you.
We hadn’t lived
together before marriage, so you were taking many chances when you made a
commitment to me and my three girls. You didn’t know how we would work out
finances, or living with teenagers, or even who would make most of the meals.
Funny how those things just worked themselves out (and I agree the fire
department doesn’t have to visit as often if we let you do most of the
cooking.)
Occasionally I
am reminded that other couples argue about things. They are unfair to each
other, jealous of each other. Unforgiving and resentful. It’s been eight years
and we have never really had a fight. It’s not because we agree on everything –
it’s because you are so fair. That is all. Everything you do has a reason
behind it.
Your love is
deliberate and obvious. You put us first, in everything.
You accepted my
children as your own. They have never doubted your commitment to them and you
have given them a safe place to call home.
Through your
fabulous Sunday dinners you have opened our home to our extended family week
after week. As these gatherings swelled beyond our dining room table, you
calmly drew up plans for a three-season sun room and built it to accommodate
the crowd.
You set the
tone, and the unspoken rules. Everyone knows family dinner is about acceptance,
respect and celebration of each and every member of this extended family, which
sometimes includes special friends.
I often think,
without this weekly reservation, our children, siblings, parents and friends
would just go about their daily lives and we would lose track of each other.
Without this family dinner that we have made important, we might see some of
our loved ones only a few times a year.
Back to the
love. Thank you for insisting on our time together each day but also insisting
on our time to ourselves. I love our morning coffee and our weekday lunches but
I also love that you can entertain yourself with your hunting and fishing and
farming. That gives me the downtime I need too. Thank you for filling my tires,
taking the squeak out of my truck, and hosing down the doghouse area without
waiting for me to complain about it.
I appreciate
your being so generous with your time, your money and the TV remote. Thank you
giving me space when I’m moody, a shoulder to cry on when I am down, and a
number one fan when I succeed.
I don’t think
I’ve improved as a cook and I certainly don’t make any more money than I did
when you met me. I hope you’re not disappointed.
I look at photos and can’t believe that skinny
little thing you married is me. You certainly know how to grow your investment.
You can stop that any time now, by the way.
Here’s to all
that lies ahead – blessings and loss. Together we’ll get through it all. Happy
anniversary, handsome.
Email: dianafisher1@gmail.com
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