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30 Years Ago Today........



Kathy and I said "I do." Through better and worse, rich and poor, in sickness and in health, we have been together. I love her as much now as I did March 10, 1979.

What follows is a classic post from a year ago. As my long time readers know, my brother Richard passed away last year on March 4. He had spent the last 20 years of his life in a wheelchair and the last 8 living in nursing homes. Kathy had become Ricky's guardian angel after my dad passed away and my mother's health had started deteriorating. On April 4, 2004, Kathy went to the nursing home where Ricky had resided at 5:30am to tell him that our mother had passed away. Here's what I had wrote a year ago:

"Ricky liked her first and foremost, because she was my wife. Kathy would take time to listen to what Ricky had to say when others were too busy for him.

Ricky knew that Kathy liked iced tea. One time when he knew that we were coming up for a holiday cookout, he made 27 gallons of sun tea. I guess he was concerned we would run out. Ricky always made Kathy feel welcome when we come up.

In Ricky's later years, Kathy would look out for Ricky's needs and sometimes go to the nursing home and take him to Wal-Mart for whatever he would want or need. There were times after we were legal guardians that one of us would have to go to an appointment for him or on occasion, go to the emergency room to meet the ambulance. One time Kathy got to the hospital, back to Ricky's room and he told the nurse "This is my sister in law, Kathy. She's 46."

Kathy arranged the transfer of Ricky from one nursing home to another when I moved my mother closer to us so we could attend to her needs. She also pulled strings to get him into sheltered workshop. When Ricky was asked a question about himself that he could not answer, his response would always be, "Ask Kathy."

If Ricky would have heroes in the last few years of his life, Kathy would definitely be one of them."

Cliff Note:Thank you for putting up with me for 30 years. I love you Kathy.

Comments

Unknown said…
Thank You Cliff You are right we have been through alot together. And I like to think that I did the best I could with Rick. I Love you more that you could ever know, Love Kathy
Pat Jenkins said…
happy anniversary mr. and mrs. slider.. ooops i mean mr. and mrs. wixy.. in all seriousness i hope the blessings you have shared for 30 years are two fold in the next thirty!!!! ...
RiverPoet said…
Happy anniversary! Thirty years is quite an accomplishment!

Sounds like your brother loved Kathy as much as you do. He was lucky to have her around.

Peace - D
Anonymous said…
Bless you both. Here's to more loving years ahead!
Jen said…
Happy Anniversary to you both! It sounds like you made a wise choice in a bride.
Just like you to make this post all about others and raise them up. Have a great day.
Bedlam said…
Happy 30th Wixy, this is so cute, kiss kiss
Busy Bee Suz said…
Sounds like a wonderful compliment to Kathy!
Congrats to you both....you have something really special.
dons_mind said…
wow! happy anniversary! hope you both have a great day!
Emma said…
Happy anniversary mom and dad!!
Mike Golch said…
Congrats on the 30th annaversary.you have got me by a year and 9 days.
Michelle said…
Happy Anniversary. Awesome poem and I wish you both many more.
Amel said…
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY for both of you, Cliff and Kathy...this post really touched me deeply. :-)))) GOd bless you!!!
Anonymous said…
Awwww, Happy Anniversary you two! I hope you have 30 more wonderfully blessed and blissful years together.
Syd said…
Happy Anniversary. That is a great testament to love for each other. It's obvious Cliff that you have much respect for your wife. You both are lucky to have each other.
Happy Anniversary Cliff and Kathy!!! You are both so blessed to have found one another! That story really brought the tears rolling down my cheeks-- so touching! I am new here, so I didn't know about your brother's passing. I know it's hard to lose our loved ones- we both know. My beloved mom passed away three years ago to breast cancer.... Not one day goes by that I don't think of her... Kathy was indeed a guardian angel, God bless you Kathy!!!!
Enjoy your very special day together... I'm toasting to you both!!
All my best, Leesa
I forgot to comment about your wedding picture!! WOW!!!! That was REALLY 70s!! You both look beautiful!!! Again, Happy Anniversary!!!
Jessica said…
Happy Anniversary to Cliff and Kathy. That's a wonderful woman you have there and I bet she thinks she's lucky to have you too. Have a wonderful day you two!
Ms Hen's said…
Wow.. what a blessing.....30 years........... and still going strong.. .

I love hearing about loooong marriages..

congratulations..

Betty Ann
Minerva said…
Happy Anniversary. Sounds like you have a keeper there. Much happiness to you both.
Anonymous said…
Happy Aniversary, Enjoy your day!
Shelley said…
Kathy is a special woman- what a kind tenderheart she had w/your brother. Happy Anniversary to both of you! I wish you much peace and happiness!!
Beautiful post--wonderful tribute to a loving marriage. God has blessed you both and your sharing is a blessing to all of us. Happy Anniversary and here's to another 30+
:-)
J. Moses said…
Happy thirtieth anniversary Cliff and Kathy from me and the Moses family! :-)
coltfan said…
congrats! hope you and the mrs happy many more happy years together.
Happy anniversary Cliff and Kathy, and may you have many, many, many more!
Michelle said…
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CLIFF AND KATHY

Wishing you healt and happiness

:-)
HWHL said…
I'm a day late, but a VERY belated HAPPY ANIVERSARY!!!!! 30 years is an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations to you both!
Tim Lones said…
Cliff:
Sorry i'm late but Congratulations..Beautiful Bride there..In more ways than one..Kathy seems like a sweet, special lady..Hope you had a great day and here's to many more..hugs to you both..

Tim
clean and crazy said…
how very wonderful congratulations enjoy each other on your special day, every day is a gift, that is why we call it "the present". Take care I am so very happy for you two to have each other.
You both look groovy man! Happy Anniversary!

It's always a good thing to choose a good lady with a good heart! Looks like you did. :)

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