Today my parents celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them! They’re in the Philippines now and will be spending the summer there. I miss them so much, but Skype helps me stay in touch. I never would have thought that as an adult I would need my parents as much as I do. They keep me grounded.
I love how they are together. I love how they flirt with one another, how solid they are. I know marriage is hard work, but they make it look so easy. Communication is key, but so is trust. The love is there so it has never been questioned. I’m only now appreciating how important the stable environment that they provided plays into my own sense of self. I know I’m dreaming the dream for my own marriage, but having my parents as role models helps a lot. Especially when I know marriage is hard work and that we will frequently be tested.
When my brother was going through his leukemia treatments, my parents were rock solid. Quite honestly, I was only able to keep sane because I knew my parents were strong enough to carry me emotionally. I asked too much of them but they never wavered. Because they had each other, they could be strong. That’s what I want. That security in knowing that the person you seek strength from the most is there to carry you when you need it, unconditionally and unequivocally.
I have that in Tim. We started dating a week before my brother’s diagnosis, so our entire first year together was him carrying me while my family and I were going through an emotional hell. He stayed solid because that’s what I needed from him. My brother approved. He wanted for me what he saw in mom and dad. Kuya knew that Tim was perfect for me and he was right. My brother was always right.
Happy happy anniversary, Mom & Dad. You both are amazing and I wish you many more crazy years together.
xo
