Anniversary blessings...

We were blessed with finding one another - first time nearly 30 years ago - and then later nearly 18 years ago.  Today we celebrated our 17th anniversary doing what we love the most:  walking around, visiting bookshops, eating, talking, laughing, watching people and encouraging one another.  Most of the time since returning to New England, we've headed to Providence, RI for this personal feast day.  It is Cinco de Mayo, too - although that didn't influence our choice of wedding days - no, that came from Bob Dylan's song, "Isis."  (As in "I married Isis on the 5th day in May...)
(I've always wanted to DO this song with a band - it is the essence of all that is good, fun and sexy about the folk/rock/Beats marriage of the Rolling Thunder Review - so who knows?!?)

During our time together I've learned a lot about myself - and life - and sharing love... mostly from my mistakes.  I've also been blessed with God's grace, Di's patience and a growing sense of humor that let's me laugh at my foibles.  We will hit a number of new high points in our journey together this summer:  Di's 50th, my 60th and my 30th anniversary of ordination. (And we're going to start exploring what it might mean/look like to retire (whenever/if ever that should happen) to Montreal, Quebec, too! (In reality, that will be a number of years away but still...)

After a long rest and a late breakfast yesterday, we drove into Providence.  We walked a bit - visited the downtown art's district - and then feasted long and deep with one another at a sweet seafood eatery.  Today, we headed off to the student ghetto and hung out in yet more bookshops and cafes until it was time to head home.  We talked about aging and love on the long drives, listened to the musicians/writers from "Portlandia" talk about their musical influences and just rested in one an other's company.  It was soul food...

... rather like the way my man, Robert Bly, puts it in this poem called "The Third Body."

A man and a woman sit near each others, and they do
   not long
At this moment to be older, or younger, or born
In any other nation, or any other time, or any other
   place.
They are content to be where they are, talking or not
   talking.
Their breaths together feed someone whom we do
   not know.
The man sees the way his fingers move;
He sees her hands close around a book she hands to
   him.
they obey a third body that they share in common.
They have promised to love that body.
Age may come; parting may come; death will come!
A man and a woman sit near each other;
As they breathe they feed someone we do not know,
Someone we know of, whom we have never seen. 

This IS a song I do and it always makes me think of Di...