Happy Anniversary

This is one of my favourite Anne Taintor comments.

Sometimes it's hard to know.

This year BigJ and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. (pause for gasps and applause)

I couldn't stand him.
.....let me explain.....

Hmmm....

We first met when I was only 4 years old. Thrown together through the democracy of public school and public housing. We lived across the road from each other and were best friends. We walked to and from school together, played at each others homes and made up clubs. We were even in grade 3 together. All was bliss for 4 years, and then I moved away.

BigJ was never far from my thoughts. Every night I would say my prayers, "God Bless, Mummy and Daddy and Sulu and SpecialK, and Me, and God Bless BigJ (names have been changed to protect the innocent)Every night for many years, how sweet...

After a good few years we were sent back to Canberra, and I had all but forgotten my little buddy. But one day.... who do you think came coolly riding past on his BMX? That's right, my BigJ.

He paused,

I thought "who's this weirdo?"

He said "I remember you"

I said "I don't"

You can see it was meant to be.
But then, as we gazed across at each other, we both said, together

" Oh, it's You!"

(pause for Ahhhhs....)

He was never far away. He was always hanging around. He was so very annoying. I couldn't stand him. I would hide in my room and pretend not to hear him. He didn't care. He tricked me into going out with him, I was too embarrassed to say No. So I took my brother on our first date.

It didn't matter how mean I was...I know that sounds hard to believe, but I repressed my natural niceness and drew on my inner intolerance..... he just wouldn't go away. My mother even started setting a place for him at dinner. She said she felt sorry for him.

I had other offers, I went out with other guys. But he was always there...

Eventually he wore me down. It was his relentless being there. His stick-to-itiveness. That's when I knew he was there to stay.

We were married when I was still a teenager, and have been together ever since. I won't lie to you, it hasn't always been easy. We don't always like each other. But we always love each other.

Someone asked me how have we stayed married so long? My reply was that you just have to make up your mind. If you're not in it for good, it won't be any good.

My policy of InTolerance has been redefined over the years. Sometimes that annoying thing or thought buzzing around constantly is worth not shooing away. That is how this blog was born. Hopefully it too will still be going strong in another 20 years.