27 Years

A selection of journal entries (plus one blog) from the past 27 years from my wedding anniversary.

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Intro: Chilled Acoustic Indie Folk by Lesfm
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Transcript

Hi. This is Ginger Johnson and you’re listening to Past Perfect: A Podcast.

Yesterday was my 27th wedding anniversary, and so I’ve assembled a selection of journal entries (plus one blog entry) from the past 27 years on or about our anniversary. You’ll notice a common theme throughout: food. I have no regrets.

February 11, 1995

Bill’s mom gave me a surprise shower yesterday—it really was a surprise, too. I didn’t even know half of the women there. It was so thoughtful of them all to come and give me such lovely gifts.

The time is getting closer—27 days—and I’m getting more and more scared. Yesterday morning I prayed that I would be happy—that I would love Bill in 50 years. Then I thought about it and prayed that I would love him in seven years, or in three years. I’m excited now, but am I excited for the wedding or the marriage? I thought when I got engaged that I would never feel that way, but here I am, wondering.

Do I love Bill? Do I need him? Will my love overcome my irritation at his faults and mannerisms? Will I really want his companionship for the next 60 years? 

I’m so scared. I’m scared about marrying Bill. I’m scared that I should be marrying someone else. I’m scared what my life will be with him, but yet the thought of my life without him doesn’t sound so great either. . . . 

March 1, 1995

I’ll be leaving this weekend to go back to Buffalo to prepare for the wedding. I’m picking up my dress tonight. My wedding band is in though we haven’t picked it up yet. We’ve ordered Billy’s band and our bed. We’ve gotten a good number of responses in, but we’re lacking a bunch. Looks like we’ll have about 75, which is a good number. I have my shoes and stockings. Aunt Debbie has finished my headpiece, cape, Beth’s cape, Jamie’s outfit, and the girls’ purses. She’s picked up fans for all of us, shrunk down instructions on flirting with fans, made favors, and organized centerpieces.

March 15, 1995

Like the dork I sometimes am (especially when I’m rushed), I left my current journal at home. Possibly because I’ve been writing in Bill’s journal and probably because I wanted to pack lightly. However, the biggest occurrence of my life just happened and I think it’s important to record it. I got married last weekend. And it was perfect. We had a beautiful warm, sunny spring day. I took my bath at Beth’s, then got dressed at Grammy’s. The photographer came and took some pictures. The limo came and picked us up and we drove over to the church. I was a little nervous, but I had been calm most of the day. Friday was my big nervous day.

The church was beautiful, the bridesmaids were beautiful; my dress was gorgeous—so were the flowers. When the music started and we began to walk up the aisle, all I saw was Bill. He said that while he was standing there, he though, “Oh, somebody’s getting married,” but it didn’t hit him that he was the man getting married.

President Strassburg gave a beautiful talk on how so many famous historical figures have trashed marriage. Then he spoke about what marriage really is and how wonderful it can be. Then he came down from the podium and married us, turned us around, and pronounced us husband and wife—the new Mr. and Mrs. William Johnson. Then the walk down the aisle, the receiving line, run outside amidst a shower of birdseed and then refuge in the limo. We kissed all the way to the reception.

We took tons of photos. It seemed like we spent the entire reception posing for pictures. My smile got worn out.

The food was wonderful. There was grilled chicken, roast beef, stuffed shells, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, spinach salad, chef salad, and rolls. The wedding cake was wonderful—it looked great and it tasted good too. Bill and I got a couple of pieces to go for the next day because we never got a chance to eat any at the reception.

March 12, 1996

Yesterday was our anniversary. I gave Bill the globe and Around the World in 80 Days. He got me three sets of notecards—one is Egyptian, one with foreign stamps, and one is a heavy cream rag paper with a gold and green decorative seal. He sent me on a paper chase to get them. It was fun. Then we went to Arturo’s for dinner—it was wonderful! I had beef tenderloin filets with a sauce of peppercorns, Dijon mustard, and red wine. It was sooo good.  It came with herb-roasted potatoes, steamed zucchini with stewed tomatoes and herbs, and salad and bread. We each had a cannoli for dessert.

March 11, 1997

We had a really nice anniversary—it was a beautiful day—similar to our wedding day, sunny, blue skies, 50’s. Bill brought me a dozen red roses and two white carnations.

March 11, 1999

Our fourth anniversary. I was really happy about it today. I made sesame salmon roulades, asparagus and mushrooms, a celery cabbage salad with a rice-wine vinaigrette, and spiced whipped cream with fresh strawberries and mangoes.

March 11, 2003

Our eighth anniversary. This morning at breakfast, Bill asked if I wanted juice. When I said I did, he said to wait just a minute. Then he left and came back with a bag and asked if I wanted my present. He bought a set of 8 glasses and in each one he stuffed a letter of his memories of each year of our marriage and a few mementos. It was so sweet that I burst into tears while I was reading them.

March 11, 2004

Ninth anniversary today, but didn’t really celebrate it [Note: I was pregnant and had the flu.] We’ll celebrate later when I feel better.

March 13, 2008 Blog post

Not only did I get to celebrate my 13th wedding anniversary this week, my husband showed me just how much he loves me. He injected my meds tonight. Now that's true love! [Note: I had had surgery on my leg and developed a blood clot, so I required injected blood thinners for what seemed like forever. Bill was the designated needle-wielder.]

March 11, 2014

Nineteen years. It’s hard to believe we’ve been married nineteen years. After we got the boys off to school, I got dressed and Bill took me over to the Dairy Bar for hot chocolate. Then we took the train up to Maine and ate lunch at Tradition, which looked just like it belonged in Ireland with a painted pressed tin ceiling, and green glass light fixtures. We ate Italian there, though and it was good. Then we took the train back to Durham and Bill got me flowers—pink tulips. The four of us went out to supper at Café Nostimo. It was warm today and sunny for a good part of the day.

March 11, 2015

Went to Florence today. Bill amazed me with the hotel he got. It’s literally right across from the duomo [cathedral]. The room is beautiful and it has a balcony. He also asked the hotel to have pink tulips in the room. It was so wonderful. The hotel got us reservations at the Uffizi and the Accademia this afternoon, so we walked for a bit with the audio-tour before we could even check in—down to the Palazzo Vecchio, then checked in, had lunch, and off to the Uffizi. I really do like The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

Then back to the Accademia, where I was once again blown away by Michelangelo’s David. We had dinner at a little restaurant called Paolo’s which was recommended to us by the hotel. Bill’s dinner was amazing—risotto, lamb, and fried zucchini sticks. Mine was good—artichoke salad and eggplant parmigiana. Walked back and got some gelato. I had coconut, and Bill had strawberry.

March 11, 2016

Last week, Bill and I had our 21st anniversary. The boys bought us tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters in Boston on Saturday. After a really nice day, we drove down in the afternoon, walked through Quincy market, Boston Common, the Garden, and to supper at an Iranian restaurant. Then we walked over to TD Garden for the show. It was fun.

March 11, 2019

It’s our anniversary today. Bill’s in London teaching his class. He was supposed to leave on Friday night, but he volunteered to be bumped because they had overbooked the flight—and he got $2000 for it. So he came back home, spent another night, then flew out Saturday. He told me I should do the same if I could and just meet him in Vienna on Saturday. I told him that was unlikely because I was flying TAP air, not Delta like he was. Also I’m flying on a Thursday, not the Friday at the beginning of spring break. That was a nice windfall though, as it covers our airline tickets to Vienna for Will and me.

I’ve got some financial aid business to attend to this week for Samuel’s college and then applications for Will. Need transcripts, etc. But today, I get to spend alone working hard. Tonight I’ll celebrate my anniversary though I’m not sure how yet. 

March 11, 2020

Twenty-five years today. A quarter century. More than half my life. Hard to believe, and yet it’s like it’s always been this way. I’m so glad I’ve had this time with Bill. I’m so glad we grew into adulthood together. I’m so thankful for the adventures we’ve taken together. May there be many more. 

It’s windy today—the wind is rattling the windows and the blinds. Perhaps it will blow the coronavirus out. Yesterday we got an email from ICSV saying that the Austrian government had a press conference and (effective Monday) they’re closing all universities. They’ve canceled any event that has more than 100 people indoors and 500 people outdoors. I’m certain that the regular schools are coming next.  Meanwhile, Samuel is supposed to go to Bill’s mom for spring break on Monday, but many of the universities are closing down for the rest of the semester, too, doing everything online. Will’s musical has been postponed, and he has a scheduled half day today, so I suspect we’ll know more in the next 24 hours what’s going to happen. For my part, I went grocery shopping again to replace some of the things we’ve eaten. There was no bread and long lines. 

Since all of our flights have been cancelled (Dubrovnik and Bologna), I needed to request refunds, so I got that done, too. Got discussion questions sorted out for the book club on Friday (even though, part of me is thinking, will we have it or won’t we?)

 Bill and I walked again yesterday—into town wandering through streets, sometimes recognizing where we were, sometimes not. We window shopped and even stepped into the greatest little café that had curved glass doors. It was adorable and I’m afraid I’ll never be able to find it again. Not that I’m interested in public places these days anyway. 

 There’s a deep blue sky behind the clouds. Lovely with the grey rooftop and chimneys and the church bell tower in the back. 

March 11, 2020

I’ve been feeling completely out of sorts today. It’s a beautiful day and sunny with the most glorious clouds and a few contrail streaks drawing lines across the sky. But down here on the earth, there’s not much cause for cheer.

 After realizing that I wasn’t accomplishing anything at home, I decided to come to Augarten and take heart in the dozens of people here jogging and chatting and playing with sticks. I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt so distraught. Will’s school: online beginning Monday. Purdue: online after spring break with no idea if they’ll return to in-person classes this semester. 

 Katrin posted some numbers on Facebook, estimating that a million people in the US are going to die from this. . . .  It’s the permanent soundtrack to my thoughts. We saw this coming. It’s not a surprise. But the reality is worse than I could imagine—the emotional reality. Can’t even begin to think about the physical reality.

 Bill came home for lunch, and afterwards, we walked around Augarten. Even that wasn’t enough. So I’m back now. . . . There’s a bird singing loudly above me and so many people here. Kids with kites, teenage girls with hula hoops, and older couples walking. 

 I should write about yesterday—our 25th anniversary. Bill made reservations for dinner at the Riesenrad—the Ferris wheel. It was so very cool. Rolls, butter, juice, soup, Tapfelspitz, and Kaiserschmarrn. Our car was like a railroad car—windows, curtains, table with flowers and candlelight. Music, heat. It was really amazing. I wish I could hold that delight in me now. All of our silly giggling last night.

March 11, 2021

Happy anniversary to us! 26 years today, and how I love the companion of my heart. He’s carried me through so many trials and struggles, walked with me through adventure after adventure, and laughed with me until we’ve cried. He is a good man and I am blessed to have him by my side.

March 11, 2021

We had a nice day yesterday. It was beautiful—sunny, perfect springlike weather. I did yoga out on the porch in the sun. Also did three loads of laundry, hanging it out to dry. Will and I had avocado bagels out on the porch for lunch while Bill was teaching. When he was done, I sat out with him while he ate in the sun, too. We had bean tacos with spiced sweet potatoes for dinner and then Bill and I watched a Robert Redford movie on Netflix. It wasn’t very good, to be honest, but we were together, snuggled up, enjoying each other’s company. Then just before bed, we got laughing about something silly and went to bed, full of joy.

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I hope you recognize that this is a curated selection of journal entries. While my marriage is indeed a happy one, we, too have had our struggles and difficulties. But we remain committed to each other and have found friendship as well as love, and we’re both looking forward to the next 27 years.

From my quiet office to your ears, wishing you joy even in the midst of uncertainty. And also, a reminder to donate if you can to help the people of Ukraine. If you aren’t able to, then simply review and share this podcast, and I’ll increase my donation. Until next time, be well and let your light shine.