In case you are just joining, my theme this year for the A to Z is all about date ideas. Since my husband and I have been married for almost 38 years, we have been on a few dates and I am a firm believer that you need to continue dating even after marriage, maybe ESPECIALLY after marriage. I’m wandering through the alphabet sharing some of our past dates and getting ideas for new ones.
Being in the outdoors is a good way to connect with a date. One of our first dates included this stop by the side of the road. My hubby was into photography at the time and asked me to let him take some pictures of me. This is what happened.
Yes, at the time I was a smoker. Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights, long. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that version of me. I had hair but no boobs. Those didn’t come until after I had kids. Still, it was a fun time. I loved that suede jacket too. With my curly hair some said I looked a little like Barbra Streisand. Ahhh the memories of youth.
Concerts and musicals are okay but opera is really not my thing even though it might be a good date idea for someone else. We did go to a Grand Ole Opry performance that was quite fun. Oddly enough, we were there for the birthday of his ex-wife! Even though they weren’t together anymore she remained in the circle of friends for a while.
And last but not least for the letter “O” is operations. When you have a spouse with issues, sometimes being with him in the hospital is as close to a date as you get. I can tell you I have spent at least one anniversary and one birthday sitting by his bedside.
When you say your wedding vows they usually include for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. I can tell you we’ve gone through all of those things in the last 37 years!
Okay, we are into the third week of the A to Z. Still with me?
Janet's Smiles 
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We’ve actually surprised ourselves by enjoying a few nights at the opera. Our first time was when we received some free tickets, so it cost nothing to give it a shot. Since then, we’ve probably been to a half-dozen shows and enjoyed the theatricality of it all.
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Well, you can’t beat free for sure.
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Yes to outdoors. No thanks to opera. And you’re right, marriage is for better or worse– operations included.
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I see we concur.
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Still with you!
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Thanks my friend!
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Operations eh? Interesting one! I’ve been used to advocating for myself for so long, medically speaking, this isn’t something I rely on Himself for. He has a phobia of hospitals due to lots of early accidents & incidents (riding a motorbike and working with explosives will do that). We both love opera, I prefer Italian & French wheras he’s a preference for the heavier German ones, so not something we’d do together. But the outdoors – that’s where we happily spend most of our time together, with our cameras 😀
Debs visiting this year from
Making Yourself Relationship Ready
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Since I worked for so long in the medical profession there were a lot of times that my knowledge came in handy.
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Having a spouse means everything when you’re in the hospital. Especially when you need someone to fight for you…
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You are right about that, John! Lots of times I had to find someone to give him more pain meds or find out where the doctor was.
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They work on the basis of “if no one’s bitching at us, everything is OK,” even if it isn’t. You have to watch them like hawks…
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Our outdoors together is often at flea markets. Now hard to walk them… but still wanting to go. Together always through thick and thin!
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Yeah, they never said it was going to be easy right? But true love is worth it.
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Ah yes, we have done outdoors and operations, but there is no way I’m dragging hubby to the opera! Grand old, or otherwise…
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Yeah, that was our first and last visit to the opera!
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I miss my younger self too. I wonder what happened?
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I feel marginally better since I lost so much weight but wish I still had that hair!
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