Our 15th wedding anniversary was Wednesday. It seems like "marker" years are supposed to be big (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 a biggie....and so on) On my 10th anniversary, we had my rings reset and the gold changed from yellow gold to white gold. That may not sound like a big deal, but it ended up being about $500 just to do that. So, that was a "marker year" and a big deal gift. One of my best friends took a cruise with her husband on their 15th anniversary. We didn't do that. And because of where we're at, we just couldn't do anything "big" anyway. So, I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Just a little self pity goin' on...but just a little.
Our day started with a "Happy Anniversary" said by both, and then we talked about the plan of the day. Work. Work. And then some work. This has actually been a busy week for us because it's freeeeeeeeeezing right now in Mississippi (as in right now this very second that I'm typing the temperature is 12 degrees), and we have lots of frozen pipe calls (we own a plumbing business). In addition to The Bob being really busy, I was really busy. I home schooled that morning, went to work at lunch, worked until 5:00 PM then braved the grocery store to get groceries on the slight chance we got snowed in, as snow was expected late that evening. By the time I got home and got our frozen pizza on the table, it was 8:00 PM. And that's what everyone wants to eat for their anniversary, right? Frozen pizza. More self pity heaped on here. The Bob was not even home at this point. He was helping a customer with a flooded basement. Yet another dose of self pity. I was completely exhausted and brain dead, so the kids and I put in the movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". What doesn't say 15th anniversary about that?! I'll have some more self pity, please. Around 9:30 PM, the Bob walks in and he has these....
Now, they are just grocery store flowers, and I had to vase them and water them, etc. Nothing fancy, but still pretty. Very pretty. And the way to melt away every bit of self pity I had allowed to creep in my heart. Not just because they were pretty flowers, but because he took the time. The time he really did not have that day. He worked 14 hours that day (literally), but he still took the time. He was cold, tired, and hungry. That right there is enough to make me grumpy. But not him. He came in with a smile, with his love, gave me my card and flowers, and happily ate his left on the counter frozen pizza.
So, I've learned it may not be in all the glitz and glamor of the gift, but in the thought and time put in to it. That's what we really want from our mate anyway is their time and attention :)
