50 came fast

She always dressed up for our birthday dates

When she was sixteen, she moved to Mocksville. Today when I see kids getting their licenses, it makes me realize that she truly was a child when we began dating. I remember her first birthday that we celebrated together in January of 1985. We had only been dating six months and  were in "young" love. That year, we went to "our" restaurant in Mooresville, NC. It was Little's Kitchen. It was the best prime rib around with port wine cheese as the appetizer. We always dressed up on these special occasions.

The celebration that year as she turned 17 was innocent, filled with the excitement of a young couple heading toward high school graduation. As I look back back, I realize we were intent on getting school and college out of the way so we could get married and start out life together.

Our very first date

So, this weekend we  are celebrating our 33rd birthday together. For  the last thirty three years in January, it's been birthday cakes and reservations at good eateries.

I focus on the 33rd because she was 17 that first birthday which adds up to 50.

When we were 17, our road map was unknown. I honestly didn't know where we would go to college, what occupation we both would have, or what our family would look like. Now, after 33 unwrapped presents, the road map has been unreal. Our occupations merged, and the most wonderful gift that she has received has been two exceptional children. Those two gifts have been better than any ring, necklace or blouse that i could have purchased.

I've been celebrating Elizabeth all week quietly looking at pictures that we have taken over the years. We have figured out each other's love language over the years. Now that we're both wearing that monumental number called 50, we'll just keep writing our story. I'll even go so far as to call this a new chapter "our 50s". I'm convinced the pages that will be written will continue to be amazing.

I love my 50 year old.