What people say, commit to, create, and the musical words that can add inspiration to a life going forward are important for a joyous existence. Sherry and I are celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary on Sept. 30. I thought I would take a short walk down memory lane and share it with you. Hopefully it will remind you of your special marriage date, inspire you to make some corrections if needed in that commitment, or get it right when you shall next vow.

I met Sherry in 1977, married her in 1978. I knew quite quickly that she was “the one”! I asked her to marry me via a poem. In spite of my poem, she said “Yes.” Thus, I have continued to write a poem to her on every anniversary, birthday, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. She says she likes them and continues to live with me so they must be adding something to my attempts to continue to make her feel as special as I think she is.

Sherry and I are essentially simple folks. We are not into things lavish. Our wedding reflected that as we had a small wedding at an outdoor pavilion overlooking Lake Lanier. We wrote our own vows, memorized them, and shared them from our heart. We rented a preacher who pronounced the necessary words and documented efficiently for the State. We chose our songs with intent and found a guitar player/singer to set the mood and reflect our style as we moved forward as a married couple.

The selected music for the wedding still is in my heart — and on my I Phone! I listen to the songs often, reminiscing on one of the happiest days of my life. They also serve to lighten my mood when the day begins with clouds in my mind and the coffee has yet to kick in! Three of the songs are “Time in a Bottle” (Jim Croce), “The Wedding Song” (Peter, Paul, & Mary) and “Follow Me” (John Denver).

My point in this personal writing is to express boldly my love for my wife and best friend and to invite you to do a reflection around your wedding(s). What were you thinking and feeling as you approached and experienced your wedding date? Did you have the wedding you deep down wanted? Did you personalize it with music that spoke to your heart, as well as your spouse’s? Did your wedding set the tone for a life of happiness together? If not, what might be done to make it better? Or perhaps you are into a new one. Better?

Sharing one’s existence with a life partner in which love is reciprocally shared is special. Hopefully you, Respected Reader, are in such a relationship or will be in the future. Do whatever it takes to make it happen. You deserve such happiness!

Happy Anniversary, Sherry! “You’re still the one” (I’d sing it to you, but I cannot sing. Poem coming!)

Dr. Stathas can be reached at 706-473-1780. Email: Stathas@plantationcable.net. Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com. Blog: drstathas.com