Monday, June 16, 2014

Thirty Years! And, Where Are the Forks?

Today is our 30th wedding anniversary.  Just writing that makes me think we should look old and gray-haired, sitting in rockers, watching the world go by.  NOPE!  While being married this long (or doing anything long enough to celebrate 30 years) sounded like forever back when I was a kid, truth is, we both still feel like ourselves and not the industry standard of old married folk.

That was then:
June 16, 1984 - the faces of relief!
This is now:
A bit more relaxed.  I wore an orangish scarf that my mom made as an homage to our very 80s peach wedding color.

Also, here's a shot of our wedding cake back then:
 
And the cake toppers that we brought along for the anniversary pictures:
Jeff's grandma turned the penguin salt and pepper shakers into a bride and groom for us - I think they are still so cute!
 
When we got engaged, I remember several grandparents telling me that marriage wasn't both of you putting in 50% - it was more like 85%.  Which doesn't make mathematical sense, but if you've ever lived with someone for a while, you know it's the truth - you need to put in more than your share of effort if it's going to work.  So far we've both put in our 85% often enough to make a go of this crazy thing called marriage...it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but I can't imagine doing this with anyone else.  Annnd, that's about as mushy as I'm going to get here - neither of us go in for social media declarations of love (compatibility index:  high).
Yeah baby!

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Now, about those forks...when we got married, we registered for all the standard stuff - everyday dishes, china, stainless steel flatware, towels, etc - and were lucky enough to receive a bounty of gifts that, to this day, I can pretty much tell you who each item came from.  We received 12 place settings of our flatware.  About a year ago, when I had dividers put in my silverware drawer, I counted everything as I put them in the drawer.  I only have eight forks now.  Where are the rest of them?  I guess over the course of 30 years, losing four forks isn't a lot, but dang it, I like our silverware, and this pattern isn't available anymore (except occasionally on replacements.com, where a single fork costs nearly as much as the entire five-piece place setting did back in 1984).  Just another great mystery of marriage, I guess.
Dansk Classique.  One of twelve eight...

35 comments:

  1. Congratulations! You were, and are, a very good looking couple! Savor the day…each one of them.

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  2. MAZEL TOV AS MY PEOPLE SAY!!!!!! xoxo

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  3. Congratulations! The smile hasn't changed on both your faces and I have to admit that I think you both look better now than back then (which can be fault of the fashion back then :) )

    It's funny that in the year you are married for 30 years, I will be living with R. 20 years in October. Even here there's a simular thing between us.

    Again, congrats Jeff and Shelley, you are a great couple together.

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    1. Oh lordy, fashion AND hairstyles were sorely lacking for me back then...

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  4. Congratulations! I can totally see you two making it for 30 more!!

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  5. Congratulations! You both look really good 30 years later!!

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  6. congrats.... no small feat being married that long... here's to 30 more !!

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  7. Happy Anniversary!!!!! 30 years is a pretty awesome milestone these days. What struck me hanging out with you guys is that, after all these years, you seem to genuinely love spending time together. I don't have a lot of models for long AND happy marriages, so as a still somewhat newlywed (coming up on 2 years this fall), it's cool to see that.

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  8. Congratulations on achieving this milestone, Shelley! I remember how the colour "peach" was all the rage in the 80's. I was married in the seventies [!] & it seemed pastels & floppy hats were the fad when we were married way back then.

    Cheers & all the best to you & your beloved!

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    1. I remember those floppy hats! I think we'd just moved beyond the "baby's breath wreath" hair adornments for weddings by the time we got married - whew!

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  9. You guys look awesome! It's funny but I had a teacher who used to play bridge with my Mom when I was in grade school - one night of bridge it was her birthday so my Mom made a cake and I asked how old this teacher was and she said 42 and I was like "wow, that's so old!" Ha! Now I am 46 and I think that's the new 26!

    Happy Happy Anniversary to you!!

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  10. Happy Anniversary!! You look exactly the same (better hair now!) but Jeff looks so different. I guess its the facial hair? He looks good in a beard.

    I love the penguin toppers, and especially that your grandma made them for you. And I do love your classic fork pattern. I really like that simple silverware. I was looking longingly at some a couple of weeks ago. I'm pretty sure my current silverware won't last 30 years : )

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  11. Congratulations on your anniversary! It took me years before finally using my wedding silverware. It was slotted only for parties. Now we use it on a daily basis. I have yet to lose a utensil :)

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  12. Congratulations! How cute are those penguin cake toppers? How cute are y'all? :)

    Wishing you many more years of happiness!

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  13. I just love this post!
    And, we lose spoons at my house. Sorry about the forks.
    Happy Anniversary you two.

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  14. Happy Anniversary!! I love the idea of having anniversary pictures made - especially love the 'victory' picture up there! So cute!!

    You both look fabulous, btw. :)

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  15. Congrats to you both, Shelley! I agree with your 85% rule, but it is worth it to have a relationship that can weather all the challenges life throws your way. DH and I are on year 22, and looking forward to the next phase of our relationship as we explore the joys of empty-nesting! You two are great role models :-)

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    1. Thanks - we've definitely had our share of challenges...

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  16. Aw Congrats you two! Considering this is my era too, I too recall the peach, pinks, greys & browns for weddings at the time. And I was thinking abt the baby's breath hair wreaths & then you mentioned! Haha

    I love the penguins & their outfits. Hee hee. Nice keepsake.

    Nice scarf, Mom!

    It's eye opening (now that we've hit the 30 year mark as well) to suddenly realize that this _____ (fork, bowl, whatever-fill in the blank) is THIRTY years old! And some of our original items are now "collectibles"!! [not antiques!]
    Blessings, Chrissy

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    1. And gawrsh we both married young! And still were able to make it work all these years! Huzzah!!

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    2. On the "collectible" front, I have a set of Corning Ware bowls (white/blue, with flowers) that were a bridal shower gift, and I've seen them in ANTIQUE SHOPS!!! Crazy.

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  17. LOL at the picture where it looks like Jeff is going to lift you right up by the arm :D

    Congratulations to you two! And it really takes effort on both sides to make a marriage work. I would say it's more like 100% involvement rather than 85%, as well.

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    1. Yeah, you sure can tell the height difference in that arm picture - he's done that when we've crossed the finish line at some races and nearly pulled my arm off!

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  18. Congrats!!! Try ebay for the missing forks!

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    1. I found some on ebay, but ack, the price! $25 each!!!

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  19. Congrats you look just as beautiful now as you did back then! Making cake toppers out of salt n pepper shakers is a fab idea. Jeff's grandma would have been a rock star on Pinterest with that idea...haha

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  20. Congratulations to you and Jeff on 30 years - y'all looked great then and you look better now!!!

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  21. Congratulations! Adding to the chorus of how darling the cake topper is/was! What a cute idea! I think only missing four forks is an amazing accomplishment -as well as the thirty years of wedded bliss. May the next thirty be even better!

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  22. BIG BIG CONGRATS to Shelley and Jeff!!! 30 down, 30+ more to go! Best wishes to you both!!!!!!!

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  23. My guess is the forks are with the missing socks that get sucked mysteriously away in the dryer :) Congratulations on hitting 30 years! You guys looked happy and awesome then and now!! Here's to another 30. ((anniversaryhug))

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  24. Congratulations! It will be 32 years for us in September. My wedding dress was similar to yours, with the high neck, and my bridesmaids wore peach! I wore a hat, though, instead of a veil. My son got engaged a week ago, so now we have another wedding to look forward to!

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  25. Congratulations! You guys are too funny -- love the shot of you with your arms raised together. Hahahaha -- you made it!

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