All and all, I can say that I highly recommend the institution.
The day we were married, I had just turned 19 and my wife was 17. My family objected, the neighbors was sure that my wife was pregnant. (it took ten years to deliver) and my older sister cried because she thought that I was making a terrible mistake. My friends were betting on divorce within six months.
My wife's father's only demand in agreeing to allow the marriage, was that she would finish high-school. Seven years later she got her master's degree, with honors, but the old man did not live to see it. My wife worked days and went to school nights, she had far more courage than I did. I learned a skilled trade and made a good living at it and it kept us above water through the first few years.
In the beginning, we were so poor that we could not afford to pay attention, but the struggles bound us even tighter. Neither of our families were in a position to help us financially so we had no safety net, it was sink or swim; we chose to swim. We worked very hard and after four years of renting we bought our first home. It wasn't a mansion, but it wasn't on wheels either!
We raised two very good children, one of each flavor. Both are well educated and successful in their middle age. We worked ourselves into a strong middle class lifestyle and we are now enjoying a nice retirement, free of struggle and still deeply in love. Through all of the struggles that life presents, I always knew that I had a strong and loving partner who had my back.
The anniversary is very important to the both of us, but we will celebrate in a very low-key manner. Instead of a big shebang with the accompanying drama and demands, we are going to go antique shopping and have a very nice dinner out.
If I died before I finish typing this, I could have no complaints, I have had a good life with a wonderful, smart, loving partner. It has been a really good run, now we are setting our goal on the Carter's record!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=We%27ll+build+a+sweet+little+nest+somewhere+out+in+the+west+and+let+the+rest+of+the+world+go+by&&view=detail&mid=277696EF02E24E8DC349277696EF02E24E8DC349&rvsmid=447ACE27381B9456F1EA447ACE27381B9456F1EA&FORM=VDRVRV