He is tall. I am short. He loves seafood. I hate it.
He didn’t wear glasses until the last few years and needs them only for reading. I’ve worn glasses since I was five years old and need those to make everything blurry clear.
He’s a terrible speller. I always excelled in spelling. He admits he is not a writer and doesn’t enjoy doing so. I’ve always been a writer and it gives me joy.
He came from a family of brothers. I came from a family of sisters. He had lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins in his extended family. I had only a handful.
His family vacationed at the Jersey shore every summer. My family took very few vacations and I never saw the ocean until I was a young adult.
He grew up in the city with bricks for a yard and no grass. I grew up in the country with a yard a couple of acres large to play in.
As a youngster, he ran up and down the halls of the Capitol building in our state capital while playing with neighborhood friends. I rode up and down country roads on a bicycle playing with my neighborhood friends.
He has the patience to read the instruction manuals. I have little patience with them and tend to just wing it until I encounter a problem; then I turn to him and his instruction manuals.
He is usually slow to anger. I often possess a short fuse.
He takes his good old time working on projects. I want to hurry up and get them completed ASAP.
He loves all things historical and pertaining to the military and reads just about every display card in museums. I am more fascinated by the personal touches of history and am not interested in movies, books, or displays about wars or the military. I also am way ahead of him while making our way through museums.
He would love to go on a cruise someday. I am terrified of the concept.
You might say we have enough differences to prove we are not compatible at all. But you would be wrong. Our differences aren’t what define us. Our shared history together makes us who we are. And we are not totally mismatched; we do have several things in common.
We are a married couple who have spent the last 43 years together – dating for three years before marriage and this fall will mark 40 years since we said “I do” in front of family and friends.
We’ve endured separations when Papa was obligated for military duty far away, many moves, job changes, health scares, and difficult circumstances during our time together.
We’ve experienced grief and sadness, but we have shared so much joy and laughter as well. And through it all, we endured together. Ours isn’t a perfect relationship but it is one cemented with commitment, love, and respect for one another.
You might just say we are a good match after all (which happens to be this week’s photo challenge).
“It’s not about having the perfect relationship. It’s about finding someone who matches you and will go through everything without giving up.” ~ Unknown
©2017 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com
I love this.
Two opposite halves that create a whole.
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Yep, that’s it. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment. I always appreciate hearing from a reader!
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This is so so sweet and beautiful!!
https://seafoaming.com
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Thanks! I try to write straight from my heart.
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This is very inspiring! Having been married for almost a year and the half now, to someone that is probably the complete opposite of me, but that our history and loves beats it everyday.. I can but hope that 40 years from now we’ll be in your shoes.. You give hope to all of us out there, living between many and many broken families and homes. Happiest 40th anniversary 🙂
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I see so much sadness from broken homes and also the fear that young people have that their marriages won’t last. Never give up hope! And when that giddy ‘feeling’ of being in love deserts you as it sometimes does, remember that love isn’t a feeling, it’s an action. That’s the best advice I can give to those just married. Wishing you all the best! Thanks for taking time to let me know how my post inspired you. Be blessed!!
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I love this story. Relationships are not only to love but also to compromise. Blessings!
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Oh yes, compromise has to be an important aspect of any successful relationship and that’s what my husband and I have learned to do with our differences. It’s not easy but it can be done with love for another, respect for who the other person is, and commitment to stay together no matter what. Happy to see that my post resonated with so many people. Be blessed right back, “Eternal Dummy.”
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Love this! Perfectly, perfect for YOU!
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Aw, thanks! Our relationship isn’t perfect but, grounded in our faith in God and love for each other, it works. Glad you stopped by, faithlovesoul. Be blessed!
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Exactly!
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What a wonderful story! As we would say in my homeland of Barbados: “40 years ain’t 40 days!” Congrats on maintaining and celebrating such a perfect match 🙂
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Oh my goodness, I love that saying from your homeland: “40 years ain’t 40 days!” That’s for sure!! Thank you, galeweithers. Be blessed!
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I do love reading this nice post, so well written about complementary to each other to be a good match. 40 Years.. wow, it’s not a short time! Hope you both stay healthy; Have a blessed day…
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Thank you! I always appreciate when a reader leaves a comment to tell me he or she was visiting my empty nest. You be blessed too, ceritariyanti!
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I also saw a good number of similarities between you and your husband and me and mine. When we first met (as colleagues) I thought we had absolutely nothing in common other than our passion for teaching. Boy, was I wrong. Our relationship grew into a deep friendship and from there … well, we’ve been together 17 years. We have ‘just enough’ in common (and ‘just enough’ differences) to keep things interesting (and we’ve introduced each other to things we enjoyed individually that we now share). Isn’t that what love is all about?
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Exactly, Margo! Glad you found your good match too! And congrats on 17 great years together. Wishing you many more!
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This is the second ‘go round’ for both of us but we’re hoping to make it to at least 40. Congrats on your loving relationship reaching that milestone!
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My sister is on her second ‘go round’ also and they’ve made it to 35 and counting! I hope you and yours will be blessed with good health and happiness to celebrate your 40th too. 🙂
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I love this. I will be married for one year in a few weeks, and coming from a broken family, it is always so encouraging to hear of lively marriages. Congrats on 40 years and I hope many more for you and your love.
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Happy Anniversary to you & yours! It takes work, perseverance, and commitment to make marriage last. You can do it! Thanks for stopping by my empty nest, reading my post, and taking time to comment. Be blessed!
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You sound like us! Incompatible-y compatible. Congratulations on an enduring marriage. 😊
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Then we are in good company with you & Bill! 🙂
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I love this!!! And I just had to let you know that Motor Man and I are so similiar to you and your hubby in several of the same ways: the spelling situation describes us perfectly, as does your paragraph about anger. And MM grew up in the city, whereas I was (and still am) a country girl. But, the instruction manual is entirely different for us: I can’t do anything with instructions, but MM knows how to put anything together!
Fun post today! Congrats on your lasting marriage!
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Well, friend, we DO have a lot in common! Happy you enjoyed my post today! Got to ask you one question — is MM the quiet one? Because my hubby is like that – not really a small talker – so I have a feeling that when our paths cross, you and I might be doing all the talking! 😉
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