Justin and I recently celebrated 10 mostly lovely years
together. (I just can’t bring myself to say it without “mostly”. That would be
a lie. We have had some tremendous unlovely times. Like the time he so inconsiderately ate the
last honey bun when I was pregnant.) Anyhoo, it was a milestone, and so, as
with various other monumental events of your lifetime you begin to take a look
back, to reminisce.
A little over ten years ago, I set out to purchase a wedding
band for my soon-to-be husband. And by “set out to purchase” I mean “stop by a
store while I’m out shopping for myself”.
I ran into a James Avery retailer and picked up what I thought would be a
perfect ring for a man who would most likely lose it in a few short months
anyway.
Fast forward to the honeymoon… I’m taking a peaceful bath at
a remote cabin and my new spouse yells from the other room, “What do you know?”
After I am abruptly awakened from my tranquility in the tub
and can grasp what he has asked, I reply, “What?”
He says, “What do you know?” Like I am supposed to have any
idea about what the heck he is inquiring or what the heck “I know”.
Appropriately I shout, “What do you mean? What do I know?!?!”
He responds, “My ring says ”I know” inside…you bought me a
USED ring???”
I cannot document the thoughts going through my mind at the
time. It was a mere 10 seconds before I was out of the tub, wrapped in a towel,
and ready to investigate this ring. Sure
enough, it had been engraved with the two simple words, “I know”. I hadn’t even noticed! Shining new wife
moment numero uno!
As you might imagine, that man I married wouldn’t let me
return it. He insisted on keeping the “used”
ring, because of the interesting story that went along with it…and probably
a reminder to the both of us that I had once been wrong. Yep…once.
Funny thing is I didn’t know
a durn thing back then. Not one little iota of what I was getting into and how
my life would change. At 19, I had no
life experience, no wisdom and for sure no “knowledge”. The only thing I knew was how much I loved that man and our family, and I believe that little bit has kept us together this long. (Although honey-bun-stealing-day was questionable.)
He went on to lose that beloved keepsake in a rodeo a few
years later. Last week, for our anniversary I got
him another wedding band (one of which I put a teensy bit more thought into
this go ‘round). On the inside, this
time, he found the words, “I still know”.
The way I figure it, I’ve got a lot more to learn, but “I
KNOW” so much more from where I am now. That is…FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.