I thought this might make you smile…
I uncovered a photo yesterday. It was taken in the early 1980s, when we were still in our teens. It had to be the 80s – surely I wasn’t sporting shoulder length hair, owl glasses and a beret at any other time in my life. And there were stuffed toys on the shelf, for goodness sake.
Our relationship didn’t start off on a good note – I was a dorky, sheltered seventeen year old, living away from home for the first time in my life. He was nine months older and didn’t suffer fools easily. We lived in the same university college – I was on the fourth floor, he was on the second.
A week after I moved in, the light in my room blew, and I didn’t know how to fix it. Pete was walking down the hallway, saw my distress, and changed the globe for me. Then he shook his head, frowned condescendingly, and said, “I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t change a light bulb before..”
Needless to say, I wasn’t immediately smitten.
That was nearly thirty years ago. Thirty years! How is it possible that we’ve spent a lifetime in the kind of relationship I used to dream about as a little girl? One where, after all this time, my husband still calls me “my love”, holds my hand when we walk down the street, and sneaks kisses in the kitchen when he thinks our sons aren’t looking?
I don’t usually mention this here, but life has been, and continues to be, hard. We’ve dealt with cancer, chronic pain, and innumerable other hiccups over the past three decades. But none of those challenges can take away from the sheer joy that permeates our daily lives, which in turn is underpinned by our relationship. His and mine. Him and I.
So now you know. When you read our blog, when you hear the excitement and laughter in my voice, you’ll understand. That young girl in the photo got to live happily ever after with the love of her life. Is it any wonder that the exuberance can be a little hard to contain sometimes?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You are a wonderful person. I am so glad you can be happy today, even when the whole street has the flu or something. You and Pete are the smartest people I know yet the example of your life together always reminds me to find the joy in what is simple and closest to home. Tell me you threw the beret away …
I wore that beret until it came apart at the seams. A friend just pointed out that I was clearly going through an Abba phase at the time.. ;-)
Celia, this is an awesome post. Thanks ever so much for sharing. May you be blessed with many, many more years of joy together.
Thanks Lizzy! We certainly do feel blessed!
That is so great to have a photo of you both way back when! How gorgeous. What a great post Celia. It’s amazing that you’ve had all those trials yet managed to stay together and still be so much in love. What an achievement! well done! xx
Charlie, I actually found the photo with a few letters that Pete had written me around the same time. I’m such a mushbag – I was a teary mess re-reading them.. :)
i will raise a glass to you both at lunchtime and send you lots of love, what a sweet photo, Celia :)
Thanks darling! Looking forward to chatting to you during the week.. xx
Celia – it’s Mothering Sunday here in the UK, but your post reminds me that all mothers were lovers first, and it’s a rare partnership where the excitement lasts so long. You’ve got a beautiful photo to help preserve your memories too!
Suelle, Mothering Sunday is something new to me, but I hope you all had a lovely day!
It’s now more commonly known as Mother’s Day – I think Australia’s is later in the year.
A lovely post, Celia. I wish you both many more years happily together and I do enjoy your blog – Joy
Joy, thank you very much, for both your kind wishes and for reading the blog! :)
Good morning Mr and Mrs Warm & Content.
Feels good, don’t it!
I love the story of how you met, and I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who couldn’t change a lightbulb either.
Sorry to hear about the down times for you both, Celia.
Gill, you and Pete would get on – I still don’t change many lightbulbs now! :)
Celia, this is so lovely. I can’t think of any other expression other than to say bless you, both, all four.
Thanks Jan, that’s very kind of you. xx
You guys are so cute…oh, and totally loving the owl glasses, beret and hair ;)
I swear our family has amazing fashion sense; I’m sure Big Boy and I will have many things to discuss next Chrissy…particularly if a certain pair of red pants also reappears :P
I had to ask Big Boy what the story was behind the red pants. You two are very naughty to laugh… ;-)
How could you forget?! …admit it, you had a giggle too.
Such a heartfelt post.
Beautiful Celia :)
Cheers,
Hannah
Hannah, thank you! :)
30 years?! Wow. You have both aged really well – you don’t look much older than this now! Thank goodness those glasses have gone though. Congratulations on finding and keeping love thorough all the ups and downs life has had in store for you. Long may the love and happiness continue.
Ha! I think we’re both much greyer and chubbier! I think I still have the glasses in a drawer somewhere. Thanks for being our friend, SG. :)
Celia – so pleased you’re still as much in love as the gorgeous young couple all those years ago.
Elaine, you’re very kind. I think we’re much closer now, which is the really wonderful thing!
Oh Celia – what a joyful post. I’m trying not to use cliches here because you never do. But heart-warming is a good description here. Really glad you shared this. Thank you.
Sally, thank you for saying that, I was worried about sounding corny! :) But I couldn’t resist posting the photo, and then the words just came out by themselves…
I too have a few photos like yours and it always puts a smile on my face when i’m feeling down or miss him. Thank you for sharing your precious photo with the rest of us :)
You guys are much more gorgeous than we ever were.. ;-)
Oh, my gosh, what a photo! Fantastic that you have had 30 years of love. You have been blessed.
Glenda, we really have! Thank you!
Perfect love Celia and so eloquently written for us all to feel, thank you.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, there are some really special Petes in the world, as you know.. :)
Brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face :)
Congratulations on thirty years – what a beautiful post – just made my day!
Thanks Shelley. I know you understand how it feels.. :)
What lovely thoughts Celia. It’s exactly why reading your blog is a pleasure and a joy – that exuberance and enthusiasm comes through in every word you write, almost as if you cannot contain it. Long may it continue to last.
C, thank you! :) xx
Even though you’ve never put it so clearly until now, I knew your relationship had to be ‘a special one”
it is obvious from the small things you describe and the happiness that comes through in your writing – knowing that you both endured so many problems and still manage to cherish each other, makes it even more special
the photo is the icing on the cake – what a treasure!
(I am still smiling at the “I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t change a light bulb before” – interestingly enough, it’s the type of stuff Phil would say without thinking twice ;-)
thanks for a marvelous post to start my Sunday, when I could barely open my eyes without the capuccino (that Phil just made for us!)
Sally, I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he said it – he was truly appalled. He later said to a mutual friend, “I’d never met anyone that hopeless!”. :D
Thank you for sharing a little of your personal story.
You and Pete look great together- then and now – I’m sure. Love has a way of making all things right. I really enjoy hearing how people got together- especially couples who have shared a life together. I used to tell our oldest son the story behind his father and myself and he recently reminded me of the last line of the story I had shared,” We had sent so much of our hearts to each other in each letter that went all those miles, that in the end we married each other to get our hearts back together. The End.”
Lovely picture- the 80’s were a gentler 60’s.
Heidi, that is such a lovely story! I hope our sons all know that their parents deeply loved them, and each other…
Those glasses remind me of school photos of mine from that era. They were so huge! The glasses not the photos. What a nice post too.
Greg, they were quite the thing, weren’t they? Heavy as sin, too! :)
This was fantastic celia honey, what a wonderful post drenched with love and longevity something we do not hear happening that often.. kitchen kisses (smile).. c
Thanks Celi darling.. xx
Your happiness comes through in all of your posts. I wish you many more years of happiness together as a family. Jeannette.
Jeannette, thank you very much! :)
Yes, your photo definitely put a big smile on my face. A really cute photo. Loving and touching post, thanks for sharing. May you and the love of your life live many more happy years together.
Norma, thank you! The photo still has our friends in stitches.. ;-)
Himself and I are also wondering where the last 30 years went, I think we all get touched with cancer and the many heartaches life dishes out. Thanks for sharing your pic, let’s see what I can drag out from the 80’s! Great post.
Sue, you’re right of course, everyone has hard times. Look forward to seeing what photos you can find! :)
What a lovely little glimpse into your heart. Many more years to you both. x
Thanks so much, Sue! Hope you’ve been well.. x
wow..that’s a love story celia..thankyou for sharing it..x
Thanks Jane! x
I think we all have those hidden photo’s, maybe not in a storage box but definitely in our own memory box. Having a reunion of friends recently, someone did a wall of photos there’s always one photo that will send shivers down your spine and one friend who has a larger memory scope than my own! Congratulations on 30 years together and many, many more. X
Yvette, I know exactly what you mean – old photos usually make me cringe! This one didn’t though – I think it’s because of the huge smile on Pete’s face. It even makes up for the beret! :)
Any why is it that you both look the same and not any older?
Particularly given that you have had your share of health and other issues, it is amazing and inspirational. Carry on doing what it is you both do….
Roz, you are very kind, but we’re definitely older! Hope to catch up soon! xx
A lovely post, Celia, and full of the joy which is your trademark. Thanks so much for continuing to share that joy with us. xxx
Thanks Amanda! I’m grateful you’re all happy to share it with me!
It is so heartwarming to read of happy endings. They make me smile, and brighten an otherwise dull day. :) Thank you so much for sharing.
~S.
Thanks Sorcha! It was nice to reminisce and look back on all those years together!
A very lovely post Celia! Our very best wishes to you and Pete both from the oldies Rose and Tony (thirty five years this year).
Thirty-five years, Rose! That’s wonderful! :)
That would be me. ^
Celia a beautiful post!
Thanks Suz! :)
Namaste
Namaste, dear friend.
How awesome to be in love and be loved :)
Tandy, it’s the best thing in the world.. x
OMG Big squeal when I saw that pic! You guys are so cute and you really aren’t that different nowadays!
I knew you’d squeal.. ;-)
Lovely post Celia. So glad to read how you and your Pete have the same long-term happiness and exuberance in each other that my Pete and I have too. We met at university also, but it’s only been 20 years for us, and no kids, our choice. I’m so happy for you, reading this post.
Thanks Kavey. I know you understand, I can read it in every one of your posts.. xx
Oh, and I meant to say, I sent Carl out to buy light bulbs for the new house (most of them were blown when we moved in). I am a fair bit older than 17 and I still have never changed a light bulb. I hope Pete doesn’t think any less of me! xx
Charlie, you have done much better than I have! I’ve been made to change a few over the past 30 years! ;-)
PS. I won’t tell Pete.. ;-)
xx
A lovely post. It is so nice to hear a heart warming story. Out of 4 girls, I have 1 sister still married. She too met her husband when she was about 17 and is still together with him after 3 children. I love that you always mention Pete and that you do sound so grounded sure of yourself and happy. Congratulations, there are always down times and sickness in everyones life but there is not always a soul mate to see it through with you xx
Tania, thank you for your comment, because it helps me understand how truly blessed we are. As you say, everyone has hard times, but we get to face them together…
Hi Celia,
Old pics are both funny, … and thought provoking too. I tend to let them lie – because they tend to remind me of how much living I’ve already done – mostly in a wasteful way. But they are also good to remind us how much fun life was then, even though we had problems that should have made us miserable – why is that? Strange, huh?
On another note, I’m trying to figure out how to rouse myself from my self imposed respite – but I’m having trouble – maybe that means I’m not ready yet. I’ll think on that.
Hope you and the gang are well.
Doc, how nice to see you, I’ve missed your blog! Thanks for stopping by. I hope all is well in your world.. xx
Best post ever. There is something to be said about a love that lasts through thick and thin, the whole rich/poor, sick/healthy, better/worse.
I read the other day that the best three words in the English language are “I love you.” and the best four words are “I got your back.” :-)
Big hugs, Maz
Maz darling, thank you! You’re someone who I know understands exactly where I’m coming from!
May I comment from the other side of the world (UK)? Perhaps it is because you have had so many hardships, and have come through them all so far, that you are able to enjoy living life to the full at the moment! If life were too uneventful, easy and bland there would be little to celebrate! (How many times do we enliven a bland plate of meat by adding seasoning, chutney or sauce to give it an extra zing?)
On a different note, congratulations on your site, which I follow with avid enthusiasm. I have even tried some of your recipes with an agreeable amount of success. Keep up the good work!
Ralph, thank you for your wise comment. Difficulties give us great perspective, and an appreciation of all that we have to be thankful for. I’d never wish for them, but with hindsight, I can always see ways in which they’ve made our lives more fulfilling.
And thank you for reading our blog! :)
Lucky you to have found somebody to share your life with. I think it is great that you still love each other and enjoy each other’s company so much.
Deb, we are blessed. We spend most of every day together, and we’ve never tired of each others’ company…
Celia.. this is such a warm and wonderful reminder of the beauty of love and of finding your soul-mate. So many think this can’t or doesn’t happen anymore.. you are living proof!! I love that Pete steals kisses from you:)
xo Smidge
ps… I still like berets.. have they gone out of style??
Smidge, every time he steals a kiss, I feel beautiful and loved. I wonder if he’d smooch me if I still wore a beret though? :D
Great photo and beautiful post Celia. In amongst all the foodie stuff (which I love…of course!) it is great to read a little bit more about fellow bloggers and friends. We all have so many parts that make up our lives, food is just one of them isn’t is? :)
Jane, it’s just one part, but it’s a big part! :)
That’s lovely!
Thanks Lee! :)
Celia, I loved this post. My hubby and I have been together since out teens also. While we have only come half the journey you have (14 yrs this year), we have grown, and continue to grow together, and now we are growing our own family it makes our history so much more meaningful. Some people think the “highschool sweethearts” concept is cheesey, but it’s lovely to know there are others out there who share daily happiness with their partner, in love and life.
Pam, some of us are really lucky, aren’t we? :)
Hi Celia,
You say in your reply to me that ‘you would have never wished for difficulties’! Have you ever thought that, just possibly, you chose those difficulties on a soul level in order to bring you to the stage of spiritual development where you obviously are at this moment? (Spoken as an aged Aquarian philosopher!!!)
Food for thought, Ralph.. ;-) Thank you..
I love it! You were, still are, but you were gorgeous. Love your beret… And, I love that you’ve been with your Mr for ever and ever. Such a beautiful blog, nice to get to know you on a more personal level. :)
That beret has caused quite a discussion! :) Thanks Anna lovely.. x
What a beautiful picture, so warm and cherishing! Your post is so beautiful and filled with love :)
Thanks Tes! :)
What a lovely photo Celia. It did indeed make me smile. And another lovely post from you too. I love the fairy tale ending, even if, as you say, life can be hard. And who wouldn’t be in love with you? I reckon Pete is a very lucky man.
I used to live in berets too in the 80s as did my mother, only she’s now back into them again ;-)
Darling, you really do say the nicest things, thank you. :) I am SO going to buy a new beret.. ;-)
Special memories here, thanks for sharing, Celia. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there is a whole busy life (and at times, hard) behind the blog front. You do so well to keep a positive focus, tempting us with drool worthy pics and chook antics. I’m often thinking of you and what you are up to, even if I don’t come out and say it. Enjoy the week, dear lady. xx
Thanks Chris. The blogosphere feels like a cosier place because I know you’re in it. :)
That whole post just felt like a warm hug Celia. Look at all those comments! You definitely touched people.
I would say your boys are very lucky to have such wonderful parents.
xxx
Brydie, thank you! I’m very touched that so many people took the time to comment, especially with WP playing silly buggers at the moment with the commenting format.
I wrote the post because I wanted people to know that, whilst our lives aren’t perfect, in all the ways that really matter, they are. :)
xxx
hi auntie celia, did papa take this photo? its a good picture to have :)
Yep, I’m pretty sure Papa took that photo, sweetheart. :) xx
Oh how wonderful! I love the joy in that picture. We have one from that same era – I have big hair, he has flip-flops and a jean vest and we are piled into a bean-bag chair. We will celebrate our 30th anniversary this fall and I am thankful every day for him and our relationship. It has made the rough patches and bumps of life bearable. May you and Pete have many more years together!
Lynn, thank you! Big hair and a jeans vest! I hope you have that photo on the fridge! :) Best wishes to you and the love of your life for another 30 glorious years! :)
Ha! That’s funny – we DO have the picture on our fridge!
Celia,
A wonderful photograph with a fabulous story attached!!
You do bring joy into so many lives by sharing your life with us all,
Diana xx
Thanks Di – I’m grateful to have you all sharing our lives with us! :) xx
awwwww… so cute then and still cute now! mwah xxx to my big bro and my big “sis”
xxx
All together now: Awwwww…
;-)
Hi Celia, I drop in, marvel at all you create and quietly slip away again until next time. You’ve given me so much enjoyment and inspiration through your blog but this one took the cake, your best creation yet (apart from the boys I’m guessing). Thanks for bringing some heartfelt beauty into my life and blessings for many more happy years to you all.
Alison, thank you so much for your lovely comment and kind wishes. And for reading our blog and sharing a little bit of our joy with us. :)
I always find it so lovely to hear people talk about their partner in such a way after such a long time together. In the world where we have celebrities that change their partners as often as their underwear, and a huge amount of ‘normal’ marriages failing when the going gets tough, it is nice have faith restored that true love still exists. You are lucky indeed to have found ‘the one’ so young in life.
Thanks Karen! We are very lucky indeed!
Look at those smiles! Truly lovely post Celia – and you really do still look the same. I think you were very bold with the cream beret – and not just a boring navy one.
Thanks darling – my friend Kevin thought I was dressing a la Agnetha from ABBA.. :D
Celia – thank you. I am blessed/touched/encouraged and thankful for your wonderful ‘happily-ever-after’ story. Love and hugs.
Thanks Oz.. xxx
You brought sweet tears to my eyes…I am a sucker for love…I am, at my age, remarried 5 years and feel very blessed…God bless your union and I wish you 30 more…
Thank you so much, Norma! xx