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NewHendoLib

(61,577 posts) Sat Dec 6, 2025, 07:59 AM Dec 6

45 years ago today .. a short story

Last edited Sat Dec 6, 2025, 10:31 AM - Edit history (1)

My wife and I were just a pregnant nurse and a graduate student, living in Hanover NH and about to act on our rather impetuous decision. We were 23 and 24 years old, and for some crazy reason felt adult and responsible.

We woke, my wife realized she was missing a shoe and sent me off shopping. We eventually headed for Rollins Chapel to meet the justice of the peace, and a handful of our friends gathered. No family - they were not happy with our decision to not have the big wedding or choose the " right" religion. So we did it small, and did it for us

And here we are, comfy in our western NC home, careers done, grandson burbling away in a playpen, listening to Sleepy Hollow on WXPN. The pumpkin chocolate chip scone gone, coffee nearly so. Just an ordinary day, in a remarkable 45 years.

I am such a lucky person.

17 replies

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45 years ago today .. a short story (Original Post) NewHendoLib Dec 6 OP

Congratulations you are indeed lucky, and smart Walleye Dec 6 #1

Wonderful malaise Dec 6 #2

A lot more of us are lucky, too, and just don't know it. Bless those who count their blessings and ... marble falls Dec 6 #3

What a lovely story to share. mwmisses4289 Dec 6 #4

Congrats, and I hope you have many more years of happiness. brer cat Dec 6 #5

A short but charming story. 3catwoman3 Dec 6 #6

Congrats! ProfessorGAC Dec 6 #7

Congrats to you! NewHendoLib Dec 6 #8

We Just Went To A Fancy Restaurant ProfessorGAC Dec 6 #10

And an abundance of Tomatoes! druidity33 Dec 6 #9

Congratulations on achieving both longevity and simplicity DFW Dec 6 #11

I agree, it's more stressful having nothing to do KS Toronado Dec 6 #14

Aren't you in Western NC? You have NH in that sentence, prolly a typo? ms liberty Dec 6 #12

Fat thumbs! Good catch. Fixed! NewHendoLib Dec 6 #13

Well, I'm about 2 hours east of you, north of Hickory, so I noticed when you changed locations! ms liberty Dec 6 #17

You and your wife a so lucky 🍀💖 Clouds Passing Dec 6 #15

Congratulations! May you have many, many more years together! HeartsCanHope Dec 6 #16

Walleye

(43,813 posts)

1. Congratulations you are indeed lucky, and smart

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:02 AM

Dec 6

malaise

(292,727 posts)

2. Wonderful

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:04 AM

Dec 6

Congrats

marble falls

(71,045 posts)

3. A lot more of us are lucky, too, and just don't know it. Bless those who count their blessings and ...

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:19 AM

Dec 6

... are grateful in all things!

mwmisses4289

(3,221 posts)

4. What a lovely story to share.

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:19 AM

Dec 6

Here's to many more years of contentment and happiness. 🍻🥂

brer cat

(27,349 posts)

5. Congrats, and I hope you have many more years of happiness.

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:30 AM

Dec 6

3catwoman3

(28,579 posts)

6. A short but charming story.

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:42 AM

Dec 6

May your story continue for many more years.

ProfessorGAC

(75,843 posts)

7. Congrats!

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:45 AM

Dec 6

We hit 45 years in 2025, too!
How did you celebrate?

NewHendoLib

(61,577 posts)

8. Congrats to you!

Reply to ProfessorGAC (Reply #7)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:47 AM

Dec 6

Nothing extraordinary - going to visit the local farmers market soon, then nice dinner out tonight.

You?

ProfessorGAC

(75,843 posts)

10. We Just Went To A Fancy Restaurant

Reply to NewHendoLib (Reply #8)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:30 AM

Dec 6

Same one we've gone to the last 6 or 7 anniversaries (aside from 2020).

druidity33

(6,869 posts)

9. And an abundance of Tomatoes!

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:52 AM

Dec 6

Only the best people truly appreciate it when they have it good. 25 years for me and mine come March and i love her more every day.

DFW

(59,729 posts)

11. Congratulations on achieving both longevity and simplicity

Reply to NewHendoLib (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:49 AM

Dec 6

My wife and I are slightly ahead in longevity, but woefully behind in simplicity. Since we had been together for eight years before the official marriage, and we had a double wedding involving three nationalities and languages, simplicity eluded us. The wedding might as well have been the General Assembly of the United Nations, minus the (badly needed) interpreters.

The grandchildren are all bilingual in German and English, even though two live in New York and two live in Königstein/Taunus. The age of bubbling has passed, I fear. My wife retired from social work, as saving the world is a thankless and strenuous profession. At 73, I just celebrated 50 years at my job with no retirement in sight. I think the stress of being in a different country every day is easier to take than the stress of having nothing to do at all. Obviously, some see it the opposite way.

Pete Seeger once said (referring to music, but it holds true for other things): “Any damn fool can get complicated,” but it takes genius to achieve simplicity. Fools that my wife and I are, we managed the complicated part just fine. It’s the simplicity where we envy your genius. We haven’t figured that part out yet.

Well done!