by Barry Girolamo

Created on: January 23, 2012   Last Updated: February 19, 2012

There were many times during the course of my marriage when I wasn’t sure as to whether or not we were going to make it. It’s not an easy thing to do, to stick together with all that goes on within the confines of what hopefully is a monogamous relationship, particularly if it also involves the raising of a family.

But, somehow, we did it, my wife and I. We just celebrated our thirty seventh wedding anniversary. We had dated for two years prior to our marriage, and so we’ve been together going on forty years now. Long time, but it went “oh so quickly.” As the years have passed, the uncertain times have diminished to the point of being nonexistent, and our relationship seems to have gotten stronger.

We married very young, they way you don’t see happening too often these days. Maybe that’s how we were able to do it, I’m really not sure. You hear all too often from people speaking of their divorce or relationship, and how they just seemed to grow apart, or no longer had anything in common, or maybe simply “fell out of love” with one another.

Possibly, because we were just kids, we “grew together“, as we really did more or less grow up together. We’ve been through most everything together. We brought life into the world together, and we’ve said goodbye to loved ones who have left us as their time was up.

I think the most important lesson I’ve learned through being married is to trust my instincts. I knew when I first met my wife that she was the one. It just felt so natural for us to be together, that there didn’t really seem to be a transition, or a “getting to know each other” period. It just always felt as if it were meant to be. Cheesy, right? But it’s true.

Now that we’ve entered into the stage to where were back living alone again, as the kids are now adults and on their own (more or less), we are enjoying the freedom that comes with the territory. We’re also enjoying our grandchildren. Immensely.

If I had to nail down just one thing as to the making of a successful union, I would have to say from what I’ve observed is that things shouldn’t be too overly planned. What I mean is, I’ve watched some couples who seem to want to have everything perfect before they make the move. My advise to them is not to wait. If it feels right, just take the leap.

The one certainty that was always a given with our relationship, is that we know that we’ll always be there for each other when it really counts. We know that we can rely upon one another, and that we can lean on each other.

Maybe that’s the answer as to why it’s worked for us. My wife knows that there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for her, and I know that she’ll always be there for me. “Till death us do part.”

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