I am an Idiot

[Rusty]

Hi Forum Friends,
the good news is, I was married 44 years ago today
the bad news, I completely forgot the date
but, wait, there's more... my sweet wife simply smiled (hey, why not, I recall that she forgot once, twenty or so years ago)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IOwkqoXwCb8mO3mLzwoFsb72OwwuB0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IOwkqoXwCb8mO3mLzwoFsb72OwwuB0)

Back when I was gainfully employed, I could fake it. We were actually married twice. In Germany the only legally recognized marriage is a civil ceremony. The law further prohibits a Pastor/Priest/Rabbi from conducting a religious ceremony unless the two celebrants have previously been married in a civil ceremony. We went downtown Friday, May 3d, during our lunch hour, got married (about 25 minutes) and went back to work. The next day, Saturday, we were married in church.

If I forgot, I could sincerely say, "Oh, Honey, I always think of the 4th as our Anniversary." Then, the next day, during lunch hour from work, I could frantically race around to buy and/or do appropriate things". That evening, I would come home from the office with a big smile, "Happy Anniversary".

Alas, Old Retired Guys have lost that crutch. (Truth be told, I never fooled her in the past :) )

Rusty :)

PS - when my daughter saw this picture, her only comment was, "Mom is beautiful, Dad, you sure look hung over!"

[Cmcburnett]

Congradulations Rusty to you and your wife on your anniversary. You are a typical man.:D We know lots of tricks you guys have that we don't tell you we know.

[kimh]

Rusty!! IMHO...it's not the #'s (or dates) that count ...it's the everyday...THAT.. counts...(that's my version w/o getting mushy:) )
Kimh
PS..we never acknowledge valentines day!

[kroberts]

Rusty,

Congrats on your anniversary! You really owe your wife for forgetting the date....:D :D

[SenorSlick]

WOW, 44 years...hats off to you!!! I think that is a tremendous accomplishment. My aunt and uncle just celebrated their 65th and my own parents had 67 years together. It is astounding indeed. Harvey

[quillabee9]

Rusty, Congrats. 44 years speaks a lot. Your branch insignia are a little blurry; chemical corps? Where in Germany? I was in Hanau 44 years ago with the 23d Engr Bn of the 3d Armored Div.
http://bestsmileys.com/candle/1.gif

[Martha]

Congratulations on your 44 years of marriage! Thanks for posting the picture.
Martha

[smiles]

Wow what an acomplishment, Congrats Rusty. You know, the way time just fliies by us when we are so busy it's easy to forget. So maybe the dear wife will forgive you!! Oh, there's not a doubt in my mind, I mean 44 years! I'm most positive she will forgive!!;)
smiles

[genevh]

Congratulations!!!!!

http://bestsmileys.com/numbers/4.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/numbers/4.gif

[Diana]

Congratulations, Rusty. You and your wife have 2 years on us. I have to say my husband (so far) has never forgotten. But at this point, if he did, it's not that big a deal. I'm just glad to still have him and I'm sure your wife feels the same about you!

Diana

[Wags374]

Congrats Rusty! That is quite the accomplishment especially in this day and age!

[billz]

Congrats Rusty and Mrs. Rusty!!!

Nothing says 'forgive me for forgetting' better than frozen custard!!:D :D
(Obviously I stop at nothing for a custard fix.)

Happy anniversary.

Bill

[karen donnybrook]

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Rusty. I agree with Kimh, it is every day that really counts.

Karen :)

[Wendy]

Rusty ...

Congratulations to you both ... hope that you have a great day :)

Wendy

[CarolLHB]

Happy Anniversary!

http://bestsmileys.com/wedding/9.gif

[msbrad]

Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Rusty!!
....and many more years of happiness.
m

[lucianj]

Congratulations. Wishing you many more.

[nkeevers]

Rusty, got a chuckle out of that one! Isn't there a time when you guys always forget? (oops, just remembered, I've forgotten once!) 44 years is such an accomplishment in these days of divorce, divorce, divorce! Happy Anniversary to you and your wife and may you have many more!

Kim, you are so right....everyday is what counts!

[bwolford]

Rusty, great story, but you aren't the only idiot. Fortunately, I'm an idiot for different reasons. :) I've never forgotten the big day in 25 years, but who knows once I reach 44 I might have transgressed.

Happy Anniversary. (We had our 25th on the 1-May).

Brice

[chas3stix]

A toast to Rusty and and lovely bride of 44 years! Long may you live and love each other!
Chas

[Byron Gale]

A few years back, a friend at work was pondering what to get his wife for their 10th anniversary. Having learned from prior experience, he was determined to plan in advance (his wife, like mine, has some uncanny way of detecting last-minute preparations, and it counts against you!) He diligently considered all recommendations and ultimately selected a nice piece of jewelry.

The morning after their anniversary date, we were all curious to know how well his efforts scored on the wife-o-meter.

...turns out it was actually only his 9th anniversary....

[genevh]

Now that's funny......:D

My wife fixed it so I'd never forget....we got married on January 1. :o

[Rusty]

Now Byron, that is good! He should get beaucoup credit for remembering their tenth wellll in advance :)

Thank you all for your thoughts and kind best wishes. Yes, it's been a great 44 years (and still counting).

Rusty

PS - and, yes, KimR, I do owe her big time for forgetting. Even with two dates I managed to forget both. Our lawnmower is dying so we went out today and she picked out the new one :D

[baderms]

Gene, I think my wife tops yours on the I can't forget the date, I was married on my birthday. :) Congratulations on hitting 44 Rusty.

[Juergen D]

Our lawnmower is dying so we went out today and she picked out the new one :D
What a nice anniversary present! ;)
Congratulations, Rusty!

Juergen

[genevh]

Gene, I think my wife tops yours on the I can't forget the date, I was married on my birthday.

I would say that tops it! :)

The significance of our date is that it was Jan. 1, 2000. Remember the Y2K thing? I've always said that I was going to get married, or the world was going to end as we know it, and I wasn't sure the two were mutually exclusive.

But she's a good sport, or I wouldn't say it. :) I can still walk and still have all my important parts intact. :eek:

Congratulations again, Rusty, on 44 years! Let's hope the new lawnmower lasts half as long. ;)

[WingAnimal]

Congratulations Rusty!!! My thought, when I looked at the picture, was that the guy standing next to you looks like he is thinking "this guy doesn't have a clue how lucky he is..." Well, maybe you do... Congratulations!!!

[elementarymydear]

Congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment in these times!

Becky