Anniversaries are rum things aren’t they? Completely predictable they trundle round exactly as they are supposed to trundle round but some anniversaries do feel special. For example, fifty years ago today Mrs H and I first met. Not a date we’d usually bother with, but fifty years is a long time so we nipped out early for a favourite breakfast and indulged ourselves in a few reminiscences.
Trying to remember my beard phases for example. I was growing one when we first met, shaved it off for the wedding then grew it again until the grey streaks became too apparent. We can't remember when that was but maybe old photos will help.
Foods we have known was a subject we inevitably discussed over breakfast. Angel Delight was quick and easy but now I’d rather not know what was in it. Lots of experimental cookery, some of which worked and some didn't. Kidneys on toast was one which didn't work at all.
Nipping out for a Chinese or Indian meal was certainly something our parents never did but it was the thing to do at our age fifty years ago. We’d meet up in Derby after work and go for an Indian meal. In later years it was a steak at the local Berni.
To keep things topical, we had no central heating until we moved into our second house in the mid seventies. It must have made a big difference in winter but I don’t remember noticing the difference at all. Maybe we didn’t have it on all the time. Maybe we’ll have to get used to that again.
A major difference between then and now, apart from all the memories and being much older is that life now feels far more engineered by outside influences, especially government. Fifty years ago it didn’t feel like that.
To keep things topical, we had no central heating until we moved into our second house in the mid seventies. It must have made a big difference in winter but I don’t remember noticing the difference at all. Maybe we didn’t have it on all the time. Maybe we’ll have to get used to that again.
A major difference between then and now, apart from all the memories and being much older is that life now feels far more engineered by outside influences, especially government. Fifty years ago it didn’t feel like that.
4 comments:
"A major difference between then and now, apart from all the memories and being much older is that life now feels far more engineered by outside influences, especially government. Fifty years ago it didn’t feel like that."
Agreed. Maybe our youthful energy made us more willing to go it alone, to take risks, and to think about our independence. Or maybe someone snuck up on us when we weren't watching, and tied us down with little threads, like Gulliver.
Either way, 50 years is a long time in a relationship, so I'm wishing you all the best for the next 50.
Sam - thanks and yes, we have been tied down with little threads, like Gulliver. Unfortunately, it takes a long memory to realise how extensive those threads have become over a few decades.
Indeed anniversaries are strange things, congrats on lasting the first 50. Frightening in how quickly they cycle back around isn't it. Sadly I have no date for when I first met Mrs W42, during late 68 and early 69 we were both part of a mixed group of friends and friends of friends who had rooms close together and often walked down to uni music gigs together. We became friends in spring 69, and closer ones by summer 69, then married in 1970. That date I do remember, Bl**dy Hell, less than a month away. Thank you for putting my memory in gear!
Woodsy - just time to buy the card!
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