#SOL2013 Wishing you caring, sharing, loving

After a wonderful day spent with my own family in celebration of life, I caught a glimpse of an incredible Manhattan evening, Kleinfeld gown, many bridesmaids, bells and whistles kind of wedding. I was in a reflective mood so I thought long and hard before I tried to write something witty and wise on social media.

• I thought of a newspaper article about a couple married for a long time.   http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130907/NEWS01/309070020/anibal-anniversary-71-years 
• I thought of an image coined by a crafty blogger who has been through a lot yet chooses joy http://www.lilblueboo.com/2013/08/a-short-guide-to-a-happy-marriage-the-download.html 
• I thought of a long, winding road of figuring out how to be us while holding onto me, learning to cheer rather than be cheered, learning to be excited when exhausted.
• I remembered wonderful, challenging days of growing a family, with pets, or with children, though sharing nieces and nephews. 
• I pondered the soccer games and family responsibilities amidst the demands of careers and bosses who only vaguely remembered strep throats! 
• I remembered forgotten anniversaries, Valentines' Days, birthdays and vacation days, those times when little things became huge fights filled with, "You never," or "Why do I always."
• I wondered if they know happiness is not depended on the actions of others and that our careers, our actions, and even our faith cannot be fully shared. 
• I reflected on the frustration that comes from balancing many intersecting identities and times filled with controlling rather than accepting, reacting rather than forgiving.
• I pondered the times I wanted to run away, give it up, do it on my own and the profound joy of thinking "we made it after all."
• I wondered if they would choose to be happy, filled with joy for what they have or become despondent, filled with what might have been.   
• I thought of parables focused on hope, prayer, forgiveness, patience, and flexibility. 
• I prayed their faith would bring comfort and grow exponentially and that their love, but a tiny grain of sand yet, would become a wide, safe beach from the ocean waves of life.  
• I hoped they would realize that "perfect" is not possible in weddings, homes, marriages, life.
• On a nearby scrap I penned, May your lives be filled with more happiness than sadness, more hope than despair, more forgiveness than self-centeredness, more love than hate.     
• It didn't seem romantic, or flowery, or eloquent even if it was parallel construction with a poetic edge. 
• So instead, I wrote, "Wishing you a lifetime of caring, sharing and loving," just like on a Hallmark card.  It was simple with parallel construction.  I hope some day, they know what I meant.