Today is our 25th wedding anniversary; here is a
photo of Beth and me from that day, June 1, 1987. We are both a little worse
for the wear, but she still looks to me to be the same woman I married. Somewhere,
there is a proverb about a homely man and a beautiful wife. I’ve often joked
that we are the personification of that proverb. When I was in my early 20’s, I
traveled with a handicapped Christian singer named Jeff Steinberg. Life on the road is
lonely, and during those years, I wanted to be married more than anything. Beth
is the wife that God gave me.
It’s true, the time goes by quickly. I can’t believe it’s
been that long. I’m 52, and I have been married almost half my life, although, it’s
virtually all my adult life. The good times seem to go past very quickly; the
bad times drag on. We have six children, and I was present at the (conception! and)
birth of every one of them. Beth had been in the U.S. Army before we met. At
9/11, she, being a long-time housewife and mother of five, wanted to “do
something”. She joined the Army Reserve, thinking that this would not entail
overseas duty. At one point she signed a longer re-enlistment, and not a week
later, she was “involuntarily transferred” to a unit that was headed to Iraq.
That was January 2003.
She served six months in Iraq, from April-October 2003.
She was in the 203rd MI BN, the “weapons intelligence” group that
was supposed to track down and catalog the “weapons of mass destruction”. There
were no WMDs, but she was exposed to plenty of other weaponry, including
ordinance and tanks, which contain depleted uranium, and thus a low level of
radiation. We can’t prove it, but we think it’s very likely that her exposure,
either to DU, or to benzene from (diesel fuel) burning trash and waste, that
caused her recent bout with leukemia. Military service and leukemia form the
book-ends that have shaped the second half of our 25 years.
In spite of the quickness of it, I’m eager to put these last
10 years behind us. Marriage is a gift; that we seem to have more time is
another gift. It is hard to describe the feeling I have. To be sure, it has
been difficult. And there is certainly a sense that we want more time together.
We have spent far too little time alone, it seems. We’re going to do some of
that this weekend, Lord willing.
I was present at the (conception... of every one of them
ReplyDeleteGross. Get a room or something.
(This from a guy who's taking his wife to a private location for 11th anniversary Saturday.)
Congratulations! 25 years is quite the mile stone! Isn't it amazing that you've been married almost as long as I've been alive! ;) My wife and I are 20 years of marriage and 5 children behind you. I guess this means you're winning!
ReplyDeleteGross...
ReplyDeleteTriablogue has never been squeamish about taking on the tough subjects.
Thanks David. I don't know about "winning". It is all pure gift from God.
ReplyDeleteHearty Congratulations to John and Beth Bugay for celebrating the Silver Anniversary milestone!
ReplyDeleteMarriage is easy work, eh?
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and Beth! And thank you for being a great example of God's faithfulness in this fallen world!
Blessings and Peace!
Thanks Truth, Thanks Constantine :-)
ReplyDelete(From a secret location).