as individuals, they exude compassion, determination and creativity. they nurture relationships carefully and thoroughly. they are kind people. they are stick-by-your-family-even-when-they-drive-you-crazy-because-family-is-everything people. they are intelligent, respectful and quite funny. both of them possess a unique sense of humor. they have their set routines and they have their set habits. they are extremely accomplished. they are storytellers. they are nature enthusiasts. they are humble.
as a couple, they exemplify patience. i have absolutely no idea what it is like to be with someone for 30 years, but i do understand the power of patience and they have it. they understand that love is a living organism. it is not a stagnant feeling. it’s not something that grows to a certain capacity within your heart and then stops. it changes. it takes on different forms. it ebbs and flows. it is found in their kitchen, in their yard, in their car, while grocery shopping, while decorating the house for the holidays, on college visits, in time of pain, in weakness, in strength and when they least expect it. it is not found in presents or in trips or in reckless expenses. it is found in their friendship. while they are so comfortable with one another, they continue to accept whatever changes they face and they welcome growth.
as parents, they are teachers. they have taught me to be my own person and to take pride in who i am (something that took me 27 years to figure out). they have encouraged everything i have ever pursued in my life and they have respected any decisions i have needed to make for myself. they are listeners. they’re entertainers. they love to make my brother and i laugh. they’re cheerleaders. they’re dancing fools and hugging machines. they are our counselors and our caretakers. they are our happiness. they taught us that life is only worth living if it is pursued at full capacity.
if nothing else, they taught andrew and i to be relentless. relentless as individuals, relentless in love, relentless in whatever life brings us. they taught us to embrace the easy and the hard, the extraordinary and the mundane, the familiar and the adventure, the good, the bad and the i-don’t-really-know-how-i-feel.
my mother continues to tell me that i’m an adult and that i am capable of making my own decisions and living my own life and i really don’t need to keep her up-to-date on everything. however, my parents are still teaching me how to exist in this world. i’ve learned some lessons on my own and with the help of friends, but nothing quite compares to the relationship you form with your parents when you begin to look at them as equals and as friends. i’ve learned my greatest lessons from them. and as their anniversary present, i promise to live my next 30 years just as they have together…
relentlessly.
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