45 Years

Anniversary flowers

45 years ago I got married for the first time. I’d met my husband a month before and we decided to get married as soon as we could. Various reasons, mostly practical, but of course we didn’t envisage any of the fallout. I’ve written about this before, so I’m not going to dwell on it now.

What is interesting, to me at least, is that I can remember a conversation we had one night – after the wedding – about what it would be like to be forty and still married. I just couldn’t imagine it. My mother was 30 something when she remarried and I didn’t know my in- laws yet. But they were still in their early fifties. I thought everyone was so old. What do people talk about at that age? What do they do?

And now suddenly I am seventy, with forty-five years of talk and chat, and argument behind me, and still gagging for more. Where did those forty-five years go? Three children, 42 years of paid work, many holidays and adventures on I look back with enormous gratitude for all the good that has befallen us. More specifically, our children produced a beautiful photo album for me for my birthday. I have spent hours poring over the pictures, some quite random, with people I am afraid I had forgotten, – it took me a while to recall all the names, but I think I have now, and it brought to mind the sort of child I was, my hopes and dreams and fears, and how I much prefer who I am today.

Last week we went to Valencia – a sort of recap of our honeymoon all those years ago, and my goodness how it had changed. But we had a fabulous time, eating in proper restaurants, and now back to reality. Tomorrow I am having a cataract done and that is all I can think about right now. I am EXTREMELY nervous, I want the world to know.

Somewhere, at the back of my brain, intellectually, I know it’s not a big deal. But it is for me, and that is that. I am well and truly out of my comfort zone.

So next time you wink or blink, think of me!

15 comments on “45 Years”

  1. Basia,

    Hope all goes well with your eye op and congrats on your 45th Anniversary, it’s our 50th in a couple of years and as you say, where had the time gone. We still need meet up re citizenship.

    Take care

    Mike

    Like

    Reply

  2. Hi Basia,
    Tried to leave a ‘comment’ or a ‘like’
    on your blog but I was told ‘ page not found’.
    Anyway, as always, I enjoyed your blog but wanted to wish you luck for your cataract operation tomorrow and let you know that I shall be thinking of you.
    Ściskam serdecznie,
    Zosia x
    Sent from my iPhone

    Like

    Reply

  4. Hi

    Firstly I had one cataract done 4 weeks ago – I was extremely nervous about the idea that albeit a skill surgeon was going to take a knife to my eye whilst I was conscious – anyone else attempting this and I would kick them in the B£lls !

    However, you can only see pixelated light. its over in 10 minutes, and the result was amazing. it was like someone had decorated everything in the house overnight and I continue to have wonderfully improve sight in that eye – cant wait to have the other on done in Novembers

    I trust you have the same wonderful experience

    Mike

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Hi Basia, I work for a surgeon and I have been told cataract surgery is the most successful operation ever invented, so I’m sure you will be fine. My Mum had both her eyes done many years ago and her eyesight is brilliant, she is always telling me to thank her surgeon as she still gets such joy looking at things out of her window even though dementia is a struggle for her. So you will have benefit for many years to come I’m sure. Good luck X

    Like

    Reply

    • Thank you, yes. I behaved very badly in the hospital as I was so nervous, but the staff were wonderful and my eye is healing beautifully. I am very ashamed of my behaviour. But I cannot promise I will be better for the next eye.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.