This is what 500 Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses looks like! Why is that important? Because today is our 500 month anniversary! Yep...500 months since the day we met and 500 months of celebrating each and every one!
It started August 10, 1977 when this fresh-out-of-high-school girl met the handsome Bill King. We began dating and four weeks later called it our “One month Anniversary.” I then went off to college, not knowing if our relationship could withstand the long distance. But loads of letters and countless phone calls provided the necessary sustenance and month after month we commemorated each by being together.
He proposed on our 36th month anniversary and we were married on our 50th.
We hadn’t started out intentionally to make monthly anniversaries a big deal, but after a few months, it occurred to us that in a long-term relationship it could actually be a valuable tool in creating a pausing point to slow the bullet train of life and recognize the gift we had together. It was that realization that galvanized our monthly “celebrations.”
Please understand the term “celebration” has had far more to do with our attitude than hoopla each month through the years. These celebrations usually involve a few mentions during the day and an exchange of cards at its close. We rarely give gifts or go out for these occasions. But the one thing we insist on every tenth is the necessity to be present with one another. That alone has taken a great deal of work and sometimes creativity. But we’ve always made it happen.
“The term “celebration” has had far more
to do with our attitude than hoopla.”
To some, this will sound like a corny tradition. But to us, it’s a tangible way of remembering our commitment to one another. We’ve had 500 months of doing life together now. It’s been a kaleidoscope of experiences and it’s gone by in a blink. But it’s been full of love and I wouldn’t trade the hand I’ve been holding through all of it….not even for all the chocolate in the world.