It was lost in the excitement of the first week of kindergarten, but at the beginning of the month, my other half and I celebrated 23 years of togetherness.
On September 3, 2002, at the end of my first day of university, I decided to take a leap of faith and strike up a conversation with the cute boy ahead of me in the bus lineup. Being desperately shy and awkward, and having had little interaction with boys at my girls’ high school, I was determined to turn over a new leave in college and become a cool, confident girl. But I had no idea how to talk to guys, let alone cute ones, so I blurted out the one “pick up line” I could think of.
“Is this the line up for the 25 bus?”
Friends, we were literally standing beneath a sign that read “25 Bus”.
Thankfully the cute boy wasn’t too put off by my terrible conversation opener, and over two decades later we’re proud parents navigating this wild ride called life together.
In honour of this special day, a little poem on love:
First Love, John Clare (1793- 1864)
I ne’er was struck before that hour
With love so sudden and so sweet,
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
And stole my heart away complete.
My face turned pale as deadly pale,
My legs refused to walk away,
And when she looked, what could I ail?
My life and all seemed turned to clay.
And then my blood rushed to my face
And took my eyesight quite away,
The trees and bushes round the place
Seemed midnight at noonday.
I could not see a single thing,
Words from my eyes did start—
They spoke as chords do from the string,
And blood burnt round my heart.
Are flowers the winter’s choice?
Is love’s bed always snow?
She seemed to hear my silent voice,
Not love’s appeals to know.
I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling-place
And can return no more.
Wishing you all many, many such moments of love!
This week’s Poetry Friday host is Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe!
It’s a beautiful, and special, love story, Jane! How else would you have made a connection but on “The 25 Bus”. That’s a title, too! Happy Anniversary and the poem’s ending – swoon!
It’s such a funny story! <3
“A rather sizeable cardigan collection”!
Jane, this blog design is to me and I love it, and clearly you made a fine choice of cute boy under the 25 Bus sign. I’m so curious about this line: “My life and all seemed turned to clay” and the idea that when we find that person we become malleable, open to being remade by them, by love. Thanks for this!
Isn’t that such a romantic thought? I adore it, I adore this poem. Love makes us feel like we’re made anew.
Happy Togetherness Anniversary, and may you share many more years of love.
Thank you! It feels like it went by in just the blink of an eye!
That’s a great story, Jane! So glad you reached out
“My heart has left its dwelling-place/And can return no more.” *happy sigh*
Isn’t it just swoon-worthy???
Happy Anniversary!! What a cute couple.
We were just wee babies!!
Jane, congratulations again on your anniversary. I smiled when I read that you took the initiative in a start-up conversation. It was a memorable day for both of you.
It certainly was! And thankfully I’ve never had to take the initiative again, ha ha.
Feeling the love–what a sweet post. Congratulations!
Thank you! Isn’t it just a swoon-worthy poem?
What a sweet tribute to a sweet love! Happy Anniversary!
Thank you! I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by!
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you!
What a sweet story, and what a perfect poem to accompany it. Happy anniversary! Maybe on your 25th anniversary you’ll take the 25 together again.
That’s a delightful idea!!
My husband and I have recently celebrated 42 years. This is the line that speaks most to me after all these years, “She seemed to hear my silent voice” He knows what I am thinking sometimes before I do. Congratulations! Here’s to many more!
What a joyous accomplishment! And I agree – sometimes it feels like we’re one person at this point, so deeply intertwined are our minds.