Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A Shout-out to Mr. Tennis

Interrupting my regularly scheduled blogging for a quick moment to give a shout-out to Mr. Tennis on our 31st (!!!) wedding anniversary!! Oh my -- it really hardly seems possible that it was 31 years ago on a very hot morning that we were married. As many of you may now be guessing . . . yes, it's true, I was a child bride!! :)

Fun now to think back on our wedding and how absolutely clueless we were at the time. Right after the wedding (no, we did not go on a honeymoon) -- we moved to lovely Philadelphia where the Rickster started law school at the incredibly beautiful campus of Villanova. He took a really cool high-speed line train to classes every day from our little down-and-out rowhouse apt. I took the dirty (smelly) scary el-train to my little job in downtown Phila. We were in culture shock to be sure after growing up in slower, not-so-metropolitan cities. Oh my!! I remember nearly screaming on the el train one morning when I saw another train coming straight at us. Ahem -- I didn't realize at that time there was more than one set of tracks. Luckily, I simply stared in horror and did not actually scream. I was so relieved when the other train veered off on its own tracks. That was only one of the many stories of our adventures in moving from the sticks to the big city that my friends at work would find to be quite hilarious!

So many, many things about Philadelphia that we absolutely loved -- our neighborhood bakery that would save brownies for me; NY style pizza; Philly cheese-steaks; the Mummers; trips to the Jersey shore; riding the high speed trains to the mall or the movies; walking to the grocery store and home again with my little cart, and the delightful life-long friends we made there. We had no car, but managed just fine. Wow -- what a little walk down memory lane I'm going on today, eh!

Anyway, we've had some great adventures and some scary times (his heart attack -- being the scariest), but there's no one I'd rather be sharing this life and our wonderful children with than the guy I lovingly call Mr. Tennis! Yeah, we're still having fun and you're still the one! Happy Anniversary Hon!

15 comments:

Jodee said...

Happy Anniversary, Rick and Jan! You are the perfect little Catholic couple! Wishing you many more happy years together!

Kate said...

Happy Anniversary!!! You weere starting married life right in my neck of the woods. We moved here 6 years ago...right at the start of our married life (one year in). We met a Mummer at a party we went to once....they had come to sing happy birthday to a guy across the street. I so love the flowers coming out of his hat...and you know, the banjo...I lined up all of the kids and got a photo...I had no idea what a mummer was!!!

Kate

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Happy Anniversary!

Congrats on 31 years....Wow!

If you ever get back to Philly for a walk down memory lane, you better let me know!!

Enjoy your day!

Lisa

Kerry said...

Happy Anniversary! Wonderful milestone. All the very best to you and your groom. Many many more happy years together.

Hope you have a great celebration.

Hugs

Shari said...

Happy Anniversary! What a sweet post!!!

Kim said...

Happy 31st Anniversary!! Enjoy your special day!

Lisa said...

Happy Anniversary!! 31 years! That is awesome!

I've spent some time at Villa Nova and Philly, it is a great place!!!

Great that you have so many fond memeories!

Bridget said...

Happy 31st Anniversary!!!! 31 years of marriage deserves a celebration! I loved your post as you always make me laugh and your posts are sweet to boot. Hope you had a great day!

Anonymous said...

Hey Janet & Rick, Happy 31st! Did you know that when I picked our wedding day, it never dawned on me that it was the same day as yours til later on! And I never did thank you for giving up your anniversary celebration to attend our wedding.... thank you! We celebrated our 25th! I love to read your blogging. I have numerous posts written but not online. Anyway, you are an inspiration! Most of my childhood friends are on marriage number 2 or 3! Congratulations on sticking to number 1 for 31 years! Love, Nancy

Lisa said...

31 years??? Wow! Weren't the early years great? Happy Anniversary!

Keri said...

Wow! Congratulations! I hope you had a wonderful celebration.

Keri

Rachel said...

Happy Anniversary! 31 years - wow! Isn't it fun to reminisce about the early years of your relationship. Here's to many many more years together!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!!! 31 years AWESOME

3 Peanuts said...

LOVE this post...I grew up in the PHilly suburbs and went to La Salle for undergrad. Good times:)

Happy Anniversary!!!

Deb said...

belated Happy Anniversary Jan and Mr. Tennis!!