Terri and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary! We met through business shortly after Terri graduated from UCSB. She was working as a manager of an insurance company and I was a budding commercial real estate broker. I was also a UCSB graduate, but six years ahead of her.
When we met it was the strangest thing! I saw her talking to me, but I didn’t understand what she was saying I was so mesmerized. All I could see were those big green eyes – something she passed on to our beautiful daughter Emily. I felt like I was remembering her rather than just meeting her. For me it was love at first sight. For her, a bit longer… This sorority girl hadn’t imagined falling in love with a romantically inclined, emotional English Lit. major turned businessman! Who would have guessed? But it worked!
How long is three decades? Well, it’s enough to realize if you will be able to grow together or not… It’s long enough for her father, my mother and father and our daughter to depart us to meet up again when we leave.
It’s long enough to give out advise too. Passion is great, but do plan to marry your best friend. Talk about the important things early on – children, money and religion. You need to laugh together and have fun.
Of course I pulled some cards for the occasion. What did you think? I’ve been reading these since college. The reading:
All eyes are on the prize. The entire family reflects on 30 years of marriage. Neither ambition, money or strength can out-perform Love. You can’t win it, buy it or force it. It forms the basis of everything and exceeds everything.
Note the three rows of cups in the 10 of Cups supporting an oversized cup. Cups are the suit of love and emotion. I see the three rows as three decades of love and marriage. These rows form the structure that supports the very large cup. This is what everyone sees and appreciates. This is Love.
Deck: Tarot de Marseille, Pierre Madenie 1709, a facsimile limited edition restoration by Yves Reynaud, Yves Le Marseillais and Wilfried Houdouin