Happy #38!

A lifespan seems to follow the pattern of single years–spring, summer, fall, and winter. I remember how LONG summer vacation used to seem when I was in grade school; now it’s gone in the blink of an eye. It took me a long time to be 38 years old, grown up I hope by any definition, and now I find I’ve been married for 38 years.

Newlyweds, circa 1972

Roger and I were rather unconventional college students in our era–we wanted to get married. Because we were financing our own college educations, we were able to brush aside familial concerns about our youth. We were married in Los Angeles City Hall, where the judges performed marriage ceremonies on their lunch breaks, and you literally “took a number” (ours was 13 of course) and waited your turn. Not convinced that this civil ceremony really “counted,” Roger’s extended family members from Japan insisted on a second Shinto ceremony when we visited them in the Bay area, hence the lovely kimonos.

Karla's Version of Us Today

Do I have any psychological words of wisdom about long-term relationships? I think I’ll leave that to the experts, like John Gottman. Based on my experience, I agree with a poster Karen had in one of her college dorm rooms about steps to a happy life. Number one on the list was “marry the right person.” In the business of relationships, there is no #2. And a big thank you to Roger for putting up with me all of these years!