32 years ago today, I got an eagle to grow gills--everything changed, and nothing changed

[DFW]

32 years ago today, a tall, even-tempered, beautiful woman from across the ocean agreed to be my life's companion.

Sometime in the 8 years we had known each other before we found the time to actually get married:
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To April 10, 1982 in Washington:
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To hanging out with some intriguing people along the way,
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Creating a few more intriguing people to be around after we're not
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And letting time take its course with us (as if we have a choice):
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If anyone had told me, that night back in 1974 in Berlin, that the lovely vision I was introduced to would even entertain the notion of spending her life with me, I would have told you you have a better chance of getting an eagle to grow gills. Now I know that "impossible" is a higher hurdle than I used to believe.

[cyberswede]

1. Well congratulations!!

Beautiful family!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. How come you got older and your beautiful bride did not????

gorgeous family. You have every right to be proud.

[Skittles]

6. I think they both look good

but yes, she is very lovely

[DFW]

12. You don't know how stubborn Germans can be sometimes

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2014, 03:21 PM - Edit history (1)

She says she'll age when she's good and ready. She wears her (nearly) 62 years VERY gracefully.

[Xyzse]

3. Congratulations!

[irisblue]

4. you are blessed

[DFW]

40. That's relative

But we have been more fortunate than many, and we are not so blind as to have missed that.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Congratulations to you both, my dear DFW!

You two are living a fairy tale, complete with kings, diplomats and of course, two princess royals!

May you have many more wonderful years...

[DFW]

17. Well, my dear Peggy

The only King I ever met was Albert King, but he was royalty in my eyes, so he counts.

[DFW]

51. Oops, let me amend that

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At the celebration here in Maine, I just ran into Angus King, the Independent Senator from Maine, whom I met nearly 20 years ago, when he was Maine's governor. The current governor of Maine, Teabagger Paul LePage gave a short speech at the christening of the USS Zumwalt today, and the guy is so dense, he had trouble reading his own speech (probably because it was in English).

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[Raine1967]

7. So beautiful and so full of love.

32 years is no small feat, but I suspect love has a part in making time go by.


May you and Ms. DFW have 32 more!

[DFW]

39. 32 more takes us to 94. Well, here's hoping!

My grandfather made it to 102, but his wife only made it to 80 and my dad's parents didn't even make it to 70.

Looks like we'll have to press our luck. But hell, the last 32 years have been pure luck, and no one can take that away from us.

[PatrynXX]

8. Congrats

and he kept the beard woohoo

[DFW]

18. Hell yeah, I did!

I have very sensitive skin, so if I shave, I break out in a red rash like a boiled lobster.

As we take our US vacations mostly on Cape Cod, being mistaken for a boiled lobster can have dire consequences.

So I kept the beard.

[calimary]

9. DANG! What a GREAT post!!! Congratulations to you both, DFW!

WUNNNNNNderful photos - you and she have built a remarkable life together! And you're not done yet!

A thing of beauty, for sure! This is TERRIFIC!!!



Btw - LOVE that guitar tie!

[DFW]

19. Thanks! I gave up on traditional ties long ago.

Although I'll be making an exception this Saturday, but that is for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

And for sure, we're not done yet! As I write this, I'm in Illinois and my wife is in Vermont. We're both meeting up in New York City tonight for dinner with our elder daughter. Typical crazy schedule!

[calimary]

29. I know how that is!

Looks like you've done an all-around expert job!

That's just FANTASTIC! Congratulations again!

[geardaddy]

10. Happy Anniversary!

It's also my birthday today!

[DFW]

20. Well, then Happy Birthday!

I approve of your choice of birthdays, needless to say....

[geardaddy]

21. haha!

Thank you and I hope you and your missus have a wonderful day!

[DFW]

25. Can't do the "day" part

I had some work to do Stateside here in Illinois, and she was visiting a GF in Vermont.

However, we're meeting up in New York City tonight for an anniversary dinner with our elder daughter.

Lost time WILL be made up for!

[geardaddy]

26. That sounds great!

Have fun!

[DFW]

27. Tikka Massala, here we come! n/t

[calimary]

30. Happy Birthday to you, too, geardaddy!

[erronis]

11. Makes my heart sing - bravo to you both!

[lillypaddle]

13. What a lovely, exciting story in pictures

Congratulations to you both.

[DFW]

28. It's the short version

I did a long version 5 years ago on the old DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8680479

Not all of the text is there, but the pics are.

[lillypaddle]

31. Wonderful!

You are blessed, and I know you know that.

[DFW]

38. The notion didn't escape me.

I may be dense, but I'm not THAT stupid!

[rafeh1]

14. not up to speed on who is who

not up to speed on who is who some names would be helpful. Anyway congratulations.

[DFW]

22. Which names?

We're not posting ours on an open board.

As for the rest, Helen Thomas and the rest are playing themselves in this particular episode.

[calimary]

33. Welcome to DU, rafeh1!

Glad you're here! As you go, you'll get it more and more. Took me awhile to get some of the abbreviations around here - finally had to try to look 'em up. Welcome! This place has kept a lot of us sane since 2001!

[mainer]

15. Lovely, lovely

Thank you for sharing your happiness.

[DFW]

24. And we're headed, of all places, to Maine tomorrow.

The teeming metropolis of Bath, to be specific.

[mainer]

32. Luckily the weather here is looking pretty good today.

In the 40s - 50s, sunny. May you have a good time in Bath, and hope you get a chance to explore a little further.

[DFW]

37. We won't have much time, but we'll try.

We are there for a ship christening. The ship is named after the father of a good friend of ours, so that's why Maine is on our list this time. We haven't been there in almost 40 years!

[Schema Thing]

46. Beautiful!

[bananas]

16. Wow!

Not what I expected from the subject line!
Pleasantly surprised!
Thanks for sharing those photos and your story!

[DFW]

23. Can't give it all away in the first chapter, can we?

[steve2470]

34. you are extraordinarily fortunate :)

I wish you and your family much continued happiness.

[DFW]

35. Brains, looks, and nearsighted

That last having saved my sorry ass long enough to give me a chance! LOL!!

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Congratulations!!!

And such wonderful photos! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

[DFW]

41. Thanks!

In the meantime, we have made it to New York, and are about to go do some serious probing of Indian cuisine.

[Rhiannon12866]

42. Sounds like another fun adventure, my friend!

Have a wonderful evening!

[niyad]

43. the happiest of anniversaries to you and your beautiful lady, dfw. thank you so much for sharing

a part of your life with us. the love just shines for all to see.

[Wounded Bear]

44. I think the kids would say...

That you, sir, are seriously over-chicked!

[DFW]

48. Is that even possible? n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

45. Glad to be the 50th to recommend!

Here's to your next 32, DFW !

[DFW]

49. I don't know if we'll make it that far

But it won't be for lack of trying!

[Schema Thing]

47. Happy Anniversary, DFW & Bride!

[DFW]

50. Thanks to all of you!

This was one of those rare days when everything went on time and according to plan.

Nice of the fates to give us a pass this time!

[Kali]

52. congrats!

[mainer]

53. Just gotta ask - is one of those photos from a Renaissance Weekend?

In particular, the one with Gabby Giffords.

Me being snoopy.

[DFW]

54. Snoop away!

The pic with Gabby and Mark was indeed at Renaissance Weekend (the one with Hillary, too).

[mainer]

55. ah hah. I thought I recognized those name tags.

Been to a few myself.

[DFW]

56. Phil and Linda were here today, too

There must have been 25 or so Renaissance people here in Bath