Recently I had a conversation with someone who was going through a rough spot in their marriage. This person was not seeking any advice they mainly just wanted someone to listen. And so I did. Mind you that just listening is very hard for me. I love to talk and I love to share stories about my Beauty and the Beast romance with Mrs. Planet Kirby. So it's a good thing that I have a blog.
I have often said that I am not an expert on anything except for the sum of what life has taught me. As for my marriage, I've learned that sometimes you need to go back to the place and time when you first fell in love and remember what it was about the person that made you fall in love in the first place. I've learned that over time people change and, for the Kirby's, that meant that despite how life may change us, we would never give up on each other. Ever.
I am not implying that marriage is easy or that we haven't ever gotten to the point where the future looked bleak but we never gave up. I've always believed that a lasting marriage requires falling in love many times. Wait a minute... Let me amend that last sentence. I've always believed that a lasting marriage requires falling in love many times, with the same person. There, that's better. And, while I stick to my belief that our marriage is best compared to Beauty and the Beast, I will say that, in our case, happily ever after is not a fairy tale, it's a choice.
Truth be told, just about every day I close my eyes and go back to that place and time when I first fell in love with Donna. It was a time when life was fun and carefree. It was a time when we had nothing but each other. It was a time when we held hands and we took long walks and we felt like we could overcome anything as long as we had each other.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. In the immortal words of Rocky Balboa, "I got gaps; you got gaps; we fill each other's gaps." I couldn't have said it better myself...
Be Well.
Bill
