We’ve had our ups and downs, but after being together for 34 years, 31 one of those married to each other, we both recognize that we have a pretty good thing going. I wish everyone felt this way about their partner. I know I’m pretty lucky to have a partner with a good sense of humor, who knows how to be silly, who likes to cook, and who leaves me notes as often as I leave them for him. Almost any day I head off island to the grocery store, Bruce has written a little note to me at the bottom of my list, and I discover it while I am racing through the aisles with the boat schedule in the back of my mind. Whenever I am away from home overnight, I leave a note on a heart under his pillow.
If I were asked what the secret to a happy marriage is, I would say it comes down to 3 simple things: Find humor in everything and laugh a lot, thank each other for even the simplest things, and leave little notes around.
One morning, Bruce had already left to go lobster fishing for the day, and I came downstairs to clean up the stuff I had left out from the night before. Something that had involved q-tips for some reason. This is what greeted me in the kitchen, on top of my laptop:
My favorite note, dates back to Valentine’s day 20 years ago. It may have started our habit of leaving notes for each other. Bruce woke me up and said, look out the bathroom window in about 5 minutes. This is what I saw:
It was the best use of a spray bottle and red food coloring I’ve ever seen, and it’s the best Valentine I’ve ever had. We keep the photo on our refrigerator and people still comment on it. I hope they are inspired.
Barbara S Fernald Jewelry 