Over the hill Barbie and mid-life crisis Ken are celebrating 35 years of an incredibly blessed marriage on Saturday, June 19, 2010! I fell head over heels in love with my best friend from high school / college; that adorable guy with the killer life guard body and tan, brown eyes so dark I could get lost swimming in their gaze, a smile that lit up the room and a loving heart and sense of humor that literally cast a spell over me which I've never recovered from :)
The boy who told his best friend in high school that he would marry me one day; though he didn't share this with me until we were married as he knew I needed time to grow up a little, experience college life, take off on my Gidget goes Hawaiian adventure and then realize that I was madly in love with my best friend Jon all along. He waited it out biding his time until wam-bam thank you mam I took the first plane off the island to run back into the arms of that guy who now sported long hair, a beard, wearing bell bottoms and hippy boots (the 70's) and about to graduate from college with a dream of making me his wife.
"I" was the winner overall bar none! Jon has remained a deeply loving, devoted, affectionate husband. A man of unquestionable integrity, and daunting work ethic. A man who loves the gospel of Jesus Christ having served in a myriad of positions from bishop to high council and everything in between. A man who is an adored father, a true friend to all who know him, a successful, respected, businessman, Civil War expert, Bob Dylan & James Taylor fan, consummate gardener, travel buff, golfer, Mr. fix it kind of guy, incredible conversationalist and lover of a small furry beagle by the name of Missy Belle Buttons, haha. How in the world did I get so lucky?!
Yup, we still dance on some Saturday mornings in the kitchen to one of our favorite Leon Russell songs, hold hands everywhere we walk, share popcorn at the movies, laugh at insane jokes, tick each other off on occasion, and cry over things that are heartwarming and heartbreaking. We pray together, play together and NEVER I repeat NEVER plan to grow up entirely! It's Peter Pan and Wendy Bird all the way folks. He still opens doors for me and does the grocery shopping and the laundry (due to my health challenges), harmonizes with his daughter singing Beatles songs and the like, rocks out at Penns games with his son, teases Mica incessantly and for some odd reason still thinks I am beautiful?! Jon Alan Christeson is, indeed, the love of my life; my eternal companion and inspiration compelling me to seek to be better to do better every day! I literally owe him my life and remain so head over heels in love with this bear hug husband of mine it makes my heart sing.
So in honor of our special occasion we have each planned a special two days of activities to surprise and delight one another. He's taking the day off of work tomorrow so that we can enjoy a leisurely, romantic dinner and the movies but only after we have enjoyed a glass of chilled non alcoholic grape juice to toast our event and nibble on chocolate fluted cups filled with fresh raspberries drizzled with chocolate. (Are you kidding - chocolate seals the deal!). It will be a day spent meandering the city, talking about our upcoming goals and dreams and reflecting on the depth and scope of endless memories we have created over the years and of course reflecting on our adored children Cameron, Ashley and Mica.
On Saturday I am surprising him by whisking him off to Paris 66 a restaurant we have not yet tried which looks absolutely delicious! Crepes will be the order of the day. Then off to a matinee performance at the O'Reiley "Art" a play, a comedy which I think will tickle his fancy and later that night a bop in at the Cabaret to enjoy a fun evening of political humor satire on stage :) Father's Day follows with this darling husband of mine wearing his 35th boutineer pined to his suit lapel to church (one of our traditions; Mother's Day corsage for me, boutineer for him) and after church a lovely BBQ on the deck with the kids (only wish Cam were home to join us in the festivities). The following week on the 22nd is his birthday as well so Ashley and I are surprising him by taking him to the Civic Arena to see a live performance by James Taylor and Carol King along with dinner down town. And Cameron is surprising his daddy with a very unique gift which Jon will go wild over also; in the new Penns Hocky arena about to open they are creating a gigantic wall mosaic of Sidney Crosby (our famous hockey player) out of mini photographs of fans, so Cam sent in a picture of he and his dad at a hockey game! Cam and Jon have a father and son tradition of attending hockey games together and now with Cam still living on the other side of the country they talk on the phone after games to compare notes. I think, Jon is going to be overwhelmed and touched by all of the fun and merriment planned in his honor!
But let me say in closing that our first anniversary was spent in our new town of Boise, Idaho. I blindfolded him, kidnapped him and drove him to the train station which is situated on a beautiful hill overlooking a portion of the city where I had a card table set up in advance with a lovely homemade meal prepared with all of the trimmings. We were just out of college and broke and this inexpensive but fun celebration remains one that has gone down as a winner in our family history! It's the quiet moments that we love most, the inexpensive date nights, the walks in the park, watching the ducks on the river, an ice cream cone from Burkee's, a ride in the car singing together at the top of our lungs and yes, dancing in the kitchen to that favorite Leon Russell song of ours that we treasure most. At this stage in life we may be able to afford some of the luxuries of life, and rightly so as we have worked hard to earn the right, but what remains most near and dear to us is simply being together!
I love looking back at all of the incredible experiences we have shared over time. The heartbreaks and worries, the joy and the laughter. It has been a wild ride and I would not have wanted to have taken it with anyone but my down hill skier, lifeguard, competitive swimmer, piano playing math major, rock & roll fiend best friend Jon! So here's to you Jonathan, the love of my life and partner in crime. May we share many more happy, memorable years together and on into eternity! How blessed I am to be sealed to you, you are MINE babe forever and ever!!! Yup, that will be me smiling up at you as we continue to walk hand in hand into old age, whispering to one another, teasing one another, winking at one another and laughing about nonsensical things. You rock babe, happy 35th! xoxo Becky
"Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made."
