Anniversaries

August 11

I am thankful for anniversaries. They give us occassion to remember and be thankful. Today is Bebe and my 40th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe it has been that long. Since the day I first noticed her, sprawled out on the dance floor at my church with a bum knee, to when I really began noticing her on a church youth group trip to Hemisfair in San Antonio (she was the one in the wide brimmed yellow hat I will never forget), to now, she has stayed an important part of my life. Thanks for the 40 years Bebe!

I took this black and white photo above when Bebe and I were dating my junior year at LSU by mounting the camera on a tripod and setting the self timer. I set the exposure so that I would get a silhouette. It was taken by the University Lake in Baton Rouge. I developed and enlarged it in a makeshift darkroom set up in a bathroom at my parents' house. It's one of my all time favorite photos.

I wrote the following poem today in celebration of our wedding anniversary. I got the idea because Bebe and I went shoe shopping yesterday for a pair of comfortable shoes for her to wear to work. I meant the poem as a compliment to our relationship; I hope Bebe doesn't take it as an insult. I know it doesn't sound very romantic but here it is...

August 11b

old pair of shoes

sometimes i think

we are like an old pair of shoes

sitting in the closet

but the ones you always choose

so comfortable to walk in

ideally matched and ideally worn

perfectly broken in

a little scuffed and a little torn

and just like the right

the left one always knows

how the other will step

and it timelessly shows

walking together flawlessly

step by step by step

these shoes harmonize

without a misstep

perhaps there’s a temptation

to visit the shoe store

but we both know in our hearts

that visit would want for more

because a perfectly shined

brand new pair of shoes

might look spiffy and great

but here’s the bad news

they would be tight

they would be ill fitting

a blister could easily develop

just from only sitting

so we take our old shoes

put on spit and shine

and walk with them together

our shoes, yours and mine.

© rt tulley