EMPTY NEST by Curt Swarm

7-Year Anniversary

Posted

There was a blinding light in the night sky above the Empty Nest Farm.  It was like we had a second yard light.  I looked up to see the fullest moon beaming proudly and majestically over our house and back yard. 

            It was 5:00 am on October 9th, and I had trooped out to the mail box to retrieve our Sunday morning newspapers.  I had to stop and behold the scene displayed in front of me: the stunning full moon, our house aglow in the darkness, and the tree that Ginnie and I had said our wedding vows under seven years earlier. 

            The next day, Monday, October 10th, would be our lucky seven-year-wedding anniversary.  Seven years ago, Ginnie had strolled out of that house to the pianist playing, and the wedding party singing, “Going to the Chapel” by the Dixie Cups.  I think Ginnie and I sensed our lives were about to change for the better.  And our lives have.  In this seven years I have written three books and expanded my Empty Nest newspaper column to fifty some newspapers in three states.  I'm always the happiest when I'm writing.  And Ginnie, my editor, as noted recently by her 95-year old father, “Radiates happiness.”

            Little did I know, not only was the moon full on this Sunday morning, October 9th, but it would also be full the next day, Monday, October 10th, our wedding anniversary.  The moon being full two days in a row at the same time is a rare occurrence.  This moon is called a Full Double Blood Moon, or a Hunter's Moon, and also a Harvest Moon.  I interpreted it all to be a good omen for our seven-year wedding anniversary.  The name, “Blood Moon,” indicates its color, reddish, as it is rising.  Higher in the night sky it is more golden.  

            How did we spend our seven-year anniversary?  Well, Ginnie went to work (she still works part-time and had forgotten to take the day off), guided by the full moon all the way to Ottumwa, where she is a lab technician at the Ottumwa Regional Hospital.  The moon put a smile on her face and a warmth in her heart, she told me by text. 

            I mowed.  The weather forecast was for rain the next day, so I wanted to get the, hopefully, last mowing of the year out of the way.  I was in such a huff to get to mowing that I completely missed the nice anniversary card Ginnie had left for me on the kitchen island.           

            While I was mowing, an old college friend, Shane, called.  I hadn't seen or heard from Shane since college.  It was great talking to him and we made plans to get together.  I shut the mower off, sat in the shade of a maple tree, observed the crystal clear blue sky, and thought how lucky I am.  Great life, great wife, blue sky, and good friends.  What more could I want?  

            Monday night, being Monday night, there wasn't much going on so Ginnie and I had made no plans for going out and painting the town.  Monday Night Football was on (groan, I know) and it was the Raiders against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.  Ginnie graduated from high school in KC so she has followed the Chiefs all her life.  I have always been a Chief's fan.  We watched the game together and yelled ourselves hoarse. 

            The game was incredible.  Everyone, myself included, figured the 4-1 Chiefs would mop up on the 1-4 Raiders.  Nope.  It was a nail biter, with the Chiefs barely edging out the Raiders, 30-29.  A couple of blown field goals here and there made all the difference.  Shows to go you, there are no sure things in sports, life or marriage.

            The Full Double Blood Moon seemed to bless our seven years of marriage and assure us of good things to come, as long as we take it one day atta time, trust in God, and don't yell at each other unless the tee-pee's on fire.   

Curt Swarm, opinion, editorial, Sunday, anniversary, Ginnie, marriage, Pen City Current,

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