Thursday, March 22, 2012

Milestone

Tomorrow, (March 23), is my lovely spouse's 60 birthday. We had our first date in May of 1968, when she was 16 years old. I've actually watched her grow up.
We dated for a few years but then drifted apart in the early 1970's while I was away in the Army. 
We were young and both needed some space.
When I returned, she'd just graduated from the Art Institute in Atlanta, and she was back in town. 
We soon began dating, and on May 5, 1974, we were married by a family friend who was a preacher. 
He lived in a mobile home in Brewton, Alabama, not far from the beach. He did the ceremony on his front porch. 
His wife, who'd never taken a picture with a "real" camera, did her best to capture the moment, but none of them were printable.
Life is a funny business, and age is not just about years here on earth. I've known 15 year-olds that seemed older than the pyramids, and Jilda, who in a few hours will enter her sixth decade of life, could have been the inspiration for the Bob Dylan classic song, Forever Young.
I guess Honest Abe said it best: 
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, 
It's the life in your years."
Truer words have never been spoken, Abe.


Happy Birthday Jilda.

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:05 PM

    Happy Birthday to your lovely wife Jilda!

    May her day be full of JOY and FUN!!!

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  2. Are you sure you have that number right, Rick? You can't convince me that Jilda is 60. Happy 30th, Jilda!

    Love,
    Janie

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  3. You two have a wonderful love story. Knowing each other for such a long time is unusual. Happy Birthday to Jilda and congrats on your wonderful marriage.

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  4. That's a lot of years that you've been together, Rick. Lovely birthday tribute to your wife today. I can't believe that she will be 60 today either. Happy Birthday Jilda!

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  5. Happy Birthday sweet Jilda !
    Enjoy your special day today...
    ~Jo

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  6. Awwwwwwwwwwww!! How romantic!!! Awwwww! Happy happy happy birthday gorgeous Jilda!! She's stunning! Take care
    x

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  7. Anonymous7:29 AM

    Happy Birthday to Jilda.....rock on.

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  8. Happy birthday, Jilda! The best is yet to come.

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  9. That is so romantic :-)

    Happy birthday Jilda!

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  10. Yeah, you and Jilda are like me and Frankie, you have grown up together. What a Ride...You are a lucky man!! Love to you both. I already told her Happy Birthday!!

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  11. Jilda is beautiful! I'm determined to work harder than ever at my yoga now. That was a beautiful post about her, and I'm sure she'd agree that you are quite a catch yourself. You two are a cute couple for sure.

    I hope Katie was able to give you the answer you wanted on your photography? She was quite honored to be asked!

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  12. Anonymous2:16 PM

    Happy Birthday to your lovely wife Jilda!!
    Have a fantastic weekend!

    Eva

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  13. Happy Birthday to Jilda and also congrats on a long and lovely marriage. Jack and I were married in 1974 also..good year! Hope Jilda's day was great and here's to the next 60...cheers!

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  14. Happy birthday Jilda. Sixty years young...

    Ms Soup

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