25 Years After The Big Bang

Dear Jessica Brennan,

As you know your dad and I have had our 25th anniversary. It was very nice. The day itself was wonderful. Before you came over to celebrate with us in the afternoon, we went to Tuckey Home Hardware to get a coupler for the garden hose and then stopped at Farm Boy for a pie. They had strawberry apple rhubarb which is worth celebrating every day.

Not to upset you, but you have known from the start that I only signed on with your Dad for 25 years – a girl has to keep her options open, so dad has graciously agreed that we can now renew our commitment one day at a time. By we, I mean me.

We are now on day 5 of the new agreement and things are going pretty good for the most part. Because a lot of people said he was my rebound guy way back when we got together, I need to be vigilant. He can be a bit crafty.

Day one he left his banana peel in the living room which I see as the beginning of the end. I mean, ew. I wrote him up for that so on Day 2 he cheerfully did the laundry…even-Steven.

Yesterday morning though when I got in the car to drive to work, things had taken a dip again…the gas light was on. Sigh. I thought, “I can’t live this way”.

Every night after dinner we have a little recap and renew our vows for 24 hours. As of 10:00pm last night I couldn’t make any promises about the future, but I’m happy to report we had a breakthrough over Tim’s coffee, (well tea) this morning and agreed to stay together until at least Monday because we’re going to the Donkey Sanctuary on Sunday  in Guelph and we’re both quite looking forward to it. We don’t want to have to take two cars.

In truth, we have been reviewing our life daily with soft humour. Each night I say to Dad, “Well we’re 3 days into our next 25 years, what do you think?” And we have found that this little exercise forces us to see that all days bring new memories and renewed presence. Each hour appears to be worth celebrating, every minute is all the more precious.

Despite the banana peels, I love your dad. We still have things to talk about, a strong friendship and I can count on him. His particular brand of genius is refreshing and his daily, dare I say innocent, constant reminders of how the world ought to be, keep me somewhat sane.

Twenty-five years is a long time, so is twenty-five days if you’re waiting to go on a trip, or twenty-five minutes if you are due for a job interview or twenty-five seconds if you are on the 401 and really have to go to the bathroom.

Make it all count.

Love Mum

xo